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A HUNDRED YEARS OF
CONFLICT

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART., G.C.B., K.C.

>.

*

A HUNDRED YEARS
OF CONFLICT

BEING SOME RECORDS OF

THE SERVICES OF SIX GENERALS OF

THE DOYLE FAMILY

1756-1856

WITH 11 ILLUSTRATIONS

,

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CG|««i*«Mt.

39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON*'

NEW YORK, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA
1911

All rights reserved

PREFACE

BEING the only representative, except Lord North,
of the six gentlemen portrayed in this volume, who
is at present serving, or has served in the Army,
and having at present no employment, I thought
I could not do better than try to record some of
their services.

The Dictionary of National Biography has mixed
them up ; the Gentleman 's Magazine has, I think,
mixed them up ; and Mr. John Fortescue told me
that in some cases, unless you had private infor-
mation, where two generals of the same name
were serving in a campaign, it was almost im-
possible to place them, as initials were only given
if three generals of the same name were present.
I have the authority of H.M. King George IV.
that their exploits are worth individualising and
preserving. In those days there were a good
many Sir Doyles, all nearly related : four soldiers,
General Sir John, Lieut. -General Sir Charles,
Major- General Sir Francis Hastings, Major-General
Sir John Milley, and a sailor, Sir Bentinck.

A Court official, having made a mistake in

vi PREFACE

sending out an invitation, once excused himself by
saying, "There are so many Sir Doyles, I never
can distinguish between them." " In that case,"
said the King, " perhaps it is just as well that
they have taken good care to distinguish them-
selves," which, coming from the Sovereign, was a
most gracious compliment.

This story was told me by Susan, Lady
North, who married, in 1835, Colonel the Right
Hon. John Doyle, afterwards North. Having this
authority, I cannot do better than begin.

The illustrations are from pictures and minia-
tures in the possession of Sir Everard Doyle.

ARTHUR DOYLE.
THE MOUNT, OSWESTRY, 1911.

CONTENTS

PAGE

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART., G.C.B., K.C. . i

MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE ... 49

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE, G.C.H., K.C.B.,

K.C 80

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 114
MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE . . .140

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. . 187

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART., G.C.B., K.C. Frontispiece

FRENCH DROMEDARY REGIMENT, CAPTURED WITH
A CONVOY IN THE LYBIAN DESERT BY
LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, I;TH
MAY 1801 To face p. 26

DOYLE MONUMENT, JERBERG, GUERNSEY . „ 44

MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE . „ 49

FRANCES, DAUGHTER OF MARK RAINSFORD, ESQ.,
WIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS
DOYLE, AFTERWARDS PRINCESS JOSEPH DE
MONACO „ 52

COLONEL WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE AT THE HEAD

OF THE I4TH REGT. AT FAMARS (1793) • ,, 54

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE, K.C.B.,

G.C.H „ 80

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE,

BART., DIED 1839, AGED 56 . . ,, 114

LADY MILNER ,, 132

From a picture by G. Romney

MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE (1813) ,, 140

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE,

K.C.B., &c., M.P. Co. CARLOW, 1830 . „ 187

From a painting by Count D'Orsay

ERRATA

Page 18, line 7 from bottom, for " 1798" read " 1795."
„ 1 10, line 9, for " 1908 " read " 1808."

„ 123 and 124, for "de Chabillan" read "de
Chabrillan."

„ 195, line 10, for " Duke of Teneira" read " Duke
of Terceira."

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART.,
G.C.B., K.C.1

SIR JOHN DOYLE was the son of Charles Doyle,
of Brambleston, County Kilkenny, and of Clo-
mony, County Carlow, one of a large family long
settled in Ireland. Beetham states that owing to
the troublous times their records were not properly
kept. In the chronicles of the D'Oylys, however,
it is stated that the Carlow Doyles, of whom
Charles Doyle was supposed to be the senior
representative, were descended from Thomas Doyle
or D'Oyly, third son of Alexander D'Oyly of
Ronten,2 in Staffordshire, who in the seventh
year of Edward III., 1333, was appointed to
assess mines and minerals in Ireland, and whose

1 Gentlemaris Magazine, Nov. 1834.

2 Alexander was the son of Edward, second son of Sir John D'Oyly
of Ronten and Stoke D'Oyly, who was the grandson of Baldwin
D'Oyly, a member of the Oxfordshire House, called after his maternal
uncle, Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon, who was at one time
squire to Brian de Bois Guilbert, Knight Templar.

A

2 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

descendants settled in that county. The arms
bear out this theory, as they are practically the
same, except that in ours there is a bordure or
and azure ; and this came into fashion as a mark
of cadency for a youngest son in the reign of
Edward III., from the youngest son of the King
taking the Arms of England within a bordure,
instead of within a label, as had hitherto been
generally done.

In a family such as ours tradition must play
a great part. Being Catholics they were bullied
by James I., they were bullied and moved on by
Cromwell ; and though, I think, they had become
Protestants before 1690, one of them having
married a Lady Lindsey, a Scotch widow, who
was supposed to have converted them, still there
were several in King James' Irish Army List, and
they were, I believe, bullied by William III., one
of them, though I do not think a direct ancestor,
having had his head cut off by William III., or
one of his generals, and stuck on the walls of
Kilkenny Castle.

In Cromwell's time a good deal of property
was forfeited, that owned by my immediate family
being given to a gentleman from England of the
name of Thornhill.

Charles Doyle of Brambleston, however, had
managed to get a nice property together, stretching,

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 3

as far as I can make out from names, from
Brambleston for about five miles to the Carlow
border, and then in County Carlow, at Kilcoltrum,
to the south, and also to the north of the town
of Borris. The Carlow property was, I believe,
inherited, and the Kilkenny property acquired.
Charles Doyle married Miss Milly, and had six
sons and a daughter ; they were, I think, rather
a remarkable family.

The eldest son, William, was a K.C. and Master
in Chancery.

" Two perished gallantly abroad in the service
of their country " ; I am quoting from the only
old book we possess on the subject. These must
have been Dunbar, the second son, and Charles,
the third.

Charles, I think, was in the Navy, but what
Dunbar was in, or where either of them perished,
I have been unable to trace, but it must have
been before 1763, as they are neither of them
mentioned in their father's will of that date ; but
as there was a great gap between the first five
children and the last two, it may very well have
been in one of the expeditions of the Annus
Mirabilis, 1759.

The fourth son, Nicholas, to quote again,
"became a dignitary of the Church"; I believe
he was Dean of Fenner and Leighlen.

4 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

The fifth son was John, the subject of the pre-
sent sketch, and the sixth son and seventh child
Welbore Ellis, my great-grandfather, who died at
the age of thirty-nine, a Major-General in the Army,
Colonel of the 53rd Shropshire Regiment of Foot,
and Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief in
Ceylon.

The one daughter, Catherine, married the Rev.
J. Bushe, and became the mother of the famous
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, who was named
" the incorruptible," from his remaining a staunch
opponent of the Union, in spite of a peerage and
other bribes offered him by Mr. Pitt.

The eldest son, William, was a celebrated wit.
He was an intimate friend of Edmund Burke,
and was a great contributor to the, I believe, then
famous political publication, Baratariana. He
once stood for Dublin University in opposition
to Mr. Healy Hutchinson, the son of the Provost,
and to quote again, " The heat of party produced
a misunderstanding which terminated in an affair
of honour, first with the Provost, and afterwards
with his son. But these differences, having arisen
merely from the heat of the moment, so far from
producing animosity, created a friendship between
the parties, which lasted during their lives." Very
good old times to have lived in.

In the first of these encounters William Doyle

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 5

had the gout, and was carried to the ground in a
sedan chair. On meeting his antagonist he paid
the chairmen, and told them to move off to a dis-
tance. This, however, they declined to do, and
insisted upon sticking to their client, and remained
close to him on different sides while the principals
exchanged four shots apiece. They felt they
would have lost caste among their fellows had they
consulted their own personal safety on such an
occasion. I believe that this episode may be taken,
as they say in " Peter Pan," as an average ten
minutes in William Doyle's life, as I recollect Sir
Charles Somerset telling me it was supposed that
a good many exploits of his life were taken by
Lever for his heroes in his novels. He died abroad
about 1790, having spent every shilling he had.

His house and property were entirely dissipated
some time previously, and all pictures, records, and
articles of value, with the exception of a little plate,
were entirely dispersed about 1779, while his two
younger brothers, John and Welbore Ellis, were
still in America ; and as their father died when they
were fourteen and twelve respectively, and they
went into the world at that age, the stories that
have filtered through must be more or less taken
on trust. There are various traditions of the mili-
tary ardour of the two boys, John and Welbore
Ellis, and I dare say of the two elder ones, Dunbar

6 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

and Charles also, being excited by members of the
family who had served in the Irish Brigade and in
foreign armies returning to Ireland ; but at this
distance of time it is very difficult to trace them
and the relationship.

Between 1698 and 1741 I find there was a
Doyle in the Regiment Lee, in the Regiment de
Westmeath, and in two other of the regiments, but
none above the rank of captain ; and it is curious
that even then the same man seems to have called
himself Doyle or Doyley with perfect impartiality
on different occasions. Among the descendants
of the "wild geese" serving in the French army
in the Franco-German War, there is one given
Doyelle (Doyle), M.T.E.H., Lieutenant in Pre-
mier 7th Regiment of Dragoons.

I may incidentally mention, that of all dirty
tricks ever perpetrated, that of Walpole making
use of his friendship with Cardinal de Fleury to
retard the promotion of Irish officers in the French
army was, I think, the most infamous. There was
also a Lieut.-Colonel Doyle in the Dragoons de
Limerick in the Spanish army — date, I think,
1731 — but according to my father it was par-
ticularly an officer who had served in the Aus-
trian service who had fired the enthusiasm of his
young relatives ; but of him I can find no trace.
Sir Martin Dillon, who kindly assisted me, informed

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 7

me that foreign war offices rather mangled the
names of English and Irish officers, as, for instance,
" Mon Gerard " for " Fitzgerald," so that may be
the explanation ; or it is possible that some one
mixed up the Spanish and Austrian services ; but
whoever he was, he did his job very thoroughly.

Sir John was born in 1756, and was originally
intended for the law. He was educated at Trinity
College, but his younger brother, Welbore Ellis,
having previously joined the Army in 1 770, he gave
up the Bar and purchased an ensigncy, and in due
time a lieutenancy, in the 48th Regiment in 1774.
In this year he was wounded in Ireland upon duty.
He exchanged to the 4Oth on it being ordered to
America on the war breaking out in 1775, in which
country he continued till the peace of 1782, a period
of the most severe and trying service ever known
in our military annals, whether the variety of
climate, the nature of the country, or the number
of well-fought actions be taken into consideration.

He commenced the campaign as Lieutenant of
the Light Company at Boston, under Colonel
Musgrove, who appointed him Adjutant to the
battalion at a later date. He first came into
notice, as Adjutant of the 4Oth at the Battle of
Brookline, 1776. The battalion was then com-
manded by Colonel Grant, who was desperately
wounded early in the day, and the action becoming

8 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

extremely hot where he lay, the Adjutant, fearing
that his Colonel might be trampled to death, rushed
into the midst of the enemy, and dragged from
among them the body of his friend, but unfor-
tunately too late, for he died shortly afterwards.

This action made a great impression on all
who witnessed it, and procured the young soldier
the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. He was
then present at the actions of Haarlem, Fort
Washington, White Plains, Iron Hills, the surprise
of Waynes, and came particularly into notice at
the Battle of Brandywine, in which he was engaged
with his regiment. Three weeks after the affair
of Brandywine, when the enemy was supposed to
be totally dispersed, Washington made a general
move, with the intention of surprising the British
troops at German Town. The advanced post of the
British army was occupied by a battalion of Light
Infantry and the 4Oth Regiment, then under the
command of Colonel Musgrove. These troops were
attacked at daybreak on the 4th October 1777.
After a stubborn defence they were compelled to
give way to numbers, and retire towards German
Town. Colonel Musgrove ordered a detachment of
five officers and about 150 men to take possession
of a large stone house, and cover the retirement.
This small body stopped the progress of the
enemy's whole column of at least 5000 men under

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 9

the command of Washington in person, for a con-
siderable time, notwithstanding that artillery was
brought to bear on the house. This gallant
defence was acknowledged to have been highly
instrumental in saving the whole army, and in this
brilliant affair Lieutenant Doyle had his share and
was severely wounded.

For this service the small detachment was
honoured with his Majesty's particular thanks.

Soon after Sir Henry Clinton assumed the
chief command in May 1778, in order to draw
some of the natives of Ireland from the enemy's
ranks, a corps was raised by Lord Rawdon called
the Volunteers of Ireland, and in this Lieutenant
John Doyle obtained a company. It is curious
that his younger brother, Welbore Ellis Doyle,
was at the same time made Lieut.-Colonel of the
Volunteers of Ireland, so that John at this time
was serving under his younger brother.

Of the celebrated retreat through the Jerseys
Captain John Doyle was Acting Brigade- Major.
In the winter of 1779 his regiment was ordered
to South Carolina, where he assisted at the siege
of Charlestown. After the fall of that place he
accompanied Lord Cornwallis up country, who
appointed him Brigade- Major. In this capacity
he was mentioned in Lord Cornwallis's official
despatch, relative to the action of Camden, 1780.

io A HUNDRED ; YEARS OF CONFLICT

On Lord Cornwallis quitting the province of
South Carolina in 1780, Lord Rawdon assumed
command of the troops, and Brigade-Major Doyle
was appointed to his staff, which laid the founda-
tions of a friendship which lasted through life.

He particularly distinguished himself at what
was known as the second Battle of Camden.
General Green, after his action with Lord Corn-
wallis in North Carolina, by a rapid movement
presented himself before the village of Camden,
where Lord Rawdon commanded a small detach-
ment of British troops, not exceeding 900 in all.
This was a most serious thing, as the enemy
were all veterans, over 3000 regulars, a large body
of cavalry, and a numerous body of militia, and
General Green was one of their best generals.

The village was untenable, with a broad and
rapid river in rear, and the enemy were strongly
posted on the heights above the village.

Lord Rawdon at once formed up his detach-
ment, attacked them with great fury, and drove
them from their position.

John Doyle's regiment, the Volunteers of
Ireland, were in this action, commanded by his
younger brother, Welbore Ellis, while he himself
was a Brigade- Major.

John Doyle was specially mentioned in de-
spatches, and was to have been the bearer of

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. n

them home himself; but luckily for him, through
some accident, the packet sailed without the official
despatch.

Lord Rawdon being invalided home, Major
Doyle was preparing to join Lord Cornwallis in
Virginia ; but in consequence of the effects of the
Battle of the Ewtaws in 1781, and from his know-
ledge of the country and people, he was requested
to remain in the province, and became Assistant
Adjutant-General to General Gould, and after his
death filled the same situation to General Stuart
and Lieut. -General Lesly.

After the departure of Colonels Tarleton and
Simcoe, he took up their line of warfare, and
collected a corps of cavalry from among the back-
woodsmen, who were won over by his concilia-
tory manners, and who became devoted to him ;
these, with the infantry of his regiment, formed
a legion.

With this corps he rendered essential service
to the army, and was again severely wounded.
He took part in a number of small affairs incident
to this species of warfare, but one is particularly
worthy of record.

An expedition having been sent against General
Marion in the Carolinas in the spring of 1782, in
which Major Doyle with his cavalry formed the
advance guard, on the morning of April 26th, on

12 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

perceiving a patrol of the enemy's dragoons, he
pursued, and when he had nearly overtaken them,
there opened to his view the State regiments of
dragoons drawn up ready to receive him.

After some firing from the musquetoons of his
flankers, he charged them with such rapidity that
they were utterly routed, leaving their command-
ing officer and a number of killed, wounded, and
prisoners on the field exceeding the Major's force
at the onset. This procured for him the special
thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. Some time
afterwards his regiment, in consequence of its
services, was placed upon the establishment, num-
bered iO5th of the Line, and ordered to Ireland,
at which time Major Doyle was entrusted with
public despatches for the Ministers.

Peace having now taken place, arid Doyle not
caring for a soldier's life in peace time, he stood
for Parliament for Mullingar, and was returned
for that place in 1782. The general outline of
his politics was opposed to the Administration of
the day, though he was in no respect a blind
party man.

The first prominent feature in his parliamentary
career was the bringing forward a motion with
regard to the Royal Hospital. This was an
establishment in Ireland for the relief of disabled
and worn-out soldiers similar to that at Chelsea,

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 13

but with a strong disparity in the provision for
each, those on the Irish establishment having not
more than half the allowance granted to those in
England. This inequality had been for some time
lamented, but remained unremedied.

In bringing forward the motion, and in plead-
ing the cause of the Irish veterans, he adduced
many instances of their fidelity, in particular one
of Corporal O'Lavery of the iyth Dragoons.
Taken from the debates of the day, this is the
gist of some of the speech : —

" Another brilliant example of tried fidelity
flashes upon my mind. When Lord Rawdon was
in South Carolina he had to send an express of
great importance through a country filled with the
enemy; a corporal of the I7th Dragoons of known
courage and intelligence was selected to escort it.
They had not proceeded far when they were fired
upon, the express killed, and the corporal wounded
in the side. Careless of his wound, he thought
only of his duty ; he snatched the despatch from
the dying man and rode on, till from loss of blood
he fell, when, fearing the despatch would be taken
by the enemy, he thrust it into the wound until it
closed upon it. He was found next day by a
British patrol with a smile of conscious virtue on
his countenance, with life sufficient to point to the
fatal depository of his secret. In searching the
wound was found the cause of death, for the surgeon
declared that it was not in itself mortal, but ren-

14 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

dered so by the irritation of the paper. Thus fell
the patriot soldier —

' Cut off from glory's race,
Which never mortal was more fond to run,
Unheard he fell.'

In rank a corporal, he was in mind a hero. His
name O'Lavery, his country Ireland, Down was his
county, and his parish Moira, where a monument
records at once his fame and the gratitude of his
illustrious commander and fellow-countryman, Lord
Rawdon. Whilst memory holds her seat, thy
deed, O generous victim, shall be present in my
mind. I would not for worlds have lost the name.
How it would have lived in Greek or Roman
story. Nor the Spartan hero of Thermopylae,
nor the Roman Curtius have in self-devotion
gone beyond thee. Leonidas fought in the pre-
sence of a grateful country ; thou wert in a
strange land, unseen. Curtius had all Rome for
his spectators, the corporal was alone in a
desert. He adopted the sentiment, without
knowing the language —

' Dulci et decorum est pro patria mori.' "

His exertions on this occasion were crowned
with success ; and the popularity gained by it was
not confined to the House, nor the objects of his
humanity, but was diffused throughout the country,
and established him in the public opinion as a
speaker of the greatest promise.

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 15

There are various other speeches of his in the
Irish House of Commons which brought him into
notice — notably one on the management of the
police in Dublin and the county. For his exer-
tions on this last occasion the freedom of the City
of Dublin was voted to him.

Soon after he pleaded the cause of the Found-
lings with success, and was unanimously elected
Governor of the Charity.

In the great question of Catholic Emancipation
Major Doyle took an early and decided part in
its favour, and was one of its first and most power-
ful advocates.

About this period, 1788, his reputation as a
soldier and a speaker attracted the notice of the
Prince of Wales, who appointed him to the post
of his Private Secretary, in which post he con-
tinued until his Royal Highness's establishment
was dissolved.

The war which broke out in 1793 called him
back to his original profession, and once more he
was able to devote his energies to a cause they
were eminently fitted for. He offered his services
to raise a regiment of his countrymen for the ser-
vice of the Government. This was accepted by
Mr. Dundas in spite of the difference in politics
between them. The corps was accordingly raised,
was numbered " 87," and called the Prince of

i6 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Wales's Irish Regiment, now the 8;th Royal Irish
Fusiliers.1

The rapidity with which it was levied confirmed
the wisdom of selecting him for the purpose.

Soon after he was raised by brevet promotion
to the rank of Colonel, and was selected by his
old commander, Lord Rawdon, now Earl of Moira,
to accompany him on his expedition to the Con-
tinent in 1794. His younger brother, Welbore
Ellis Doyle, was in the same expedition, and
accompanied the force as Adjutant-General.

The way in which the force, landing at Ostend,
and marching through a country in possession of
a victorious enemy, effected its junction with the
Duke of York, has been universally spoken of with
admiration.

In this march Colonel Doyle was ordered to
take post with his young corps at the village of
Alost, to cover the movements of the army, this
being the probable route the enemy would take.
The Colonel had barely taken possession of the
place when the enemy appeared in force against
it. He had occupied with the greater part of his
corps the houses commanding the principal street,
and was returning from posting his picquets, when
a party of British dragoons, who had advanced in

1 The King has lately done this regiment the honour of becoming
their Colonel-in-Chief.

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 17

front of the town, came back at full speed, pursued
by the enemy's hussars, many of whom were mixed
with them.

The Colonel was at this time on horseback in
the street, attended by two orderly dragoons (one
of whom was killed) ; he had barely time to caution
his men against firing, lest they should destroy the
British cavalry as well as the enemy, when he was
attacked by two hussars, one of whom gave him
a severe wound in the head, and on facing him
to return the blow, he received a severe sword-
cut on the arm from the other assailant. At this
moment the grenadiers of the Colonel's regi-
ment, who were posted in one of the houses,
seeing an opportunity, poured a destructive fire
into the ranks of the hussars, which made the
whole give way, leaving a number of killed and
wounded.

While he was engaged in the manner above
described, a party of the enemy had pushed past
and occupied the narrow passage by which he alone
could rejoin his corps. He at this time showed
considerable presence of mind, and took the sudden
resolution of going off with the flying enemy, trust-
ing to a more favourable opportunity of extricating
himself. He being wounded appears to have given
them the idea he was a prisoner, and accordingly

he was unmolested, and ultimately passed by each
. * * *** jj. ft

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i8 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

of them, when, taking advantage of a cross road,
he got back and rejoined his regiment.

He was mentioned in a distinguished manner
in the Duke of York's account of this affair, and
was removed to Antwerp, and ultimately to Eng-
land, for the recovery of his wounds, which were
of a very severe character.

Lord Moira in his despatch made the following
remarks : —

" I consider Colonel Doyle a most valuable
officer, full of active resource, and fit to be con-
fidently relied on in any situation of danger.

" MOIRA, Lt.-Gen"

Upon the army's falling back upon Holland,
the Colonel's regiment, the 87th, was thrown into
Bergen-op-Zoom, the garrison of which had basely
sold the place to the enemy, and contrary to a
solemn promise, gave up the British regiment as
prisoners of war.

On Colonel Doyle's return to Ireland in January
1798, he found a material change in the politics of
that country.

Lord Fitzwilliam had been appointed Lord-
Lieutenant for the purposes of conciliation ; and
amongst other popular measures brought forward,
Colonel Doyle was placed at the head of the War
Department. Enjoying the confidence and sup-

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 19

port of Lord Fitzwilliam, he was enabled to in-
troduce many useful reforms into this department.
Politics were excluded from the War Office, and
the only claims admitted were military merit and
faithful service.

While he held this office the Catholic claims
were again agitated. The amelioration of the lot
of this body was a leading feature in Lord Fitz-
william's administration, in which he was ably
supported by his Secretary of War.

Lord Fitzwilliam was, however, recalled, in con-
sequence of differing in opinion with the Minister
on this subject, and the whole of the members of
the Irish Administration resigned.

It was felt, however, in those critical times that
Colonel Doyle's services could not be dispensed
with, and he was requested to continue in his office
under Lord Camden, which he agreed to do, and
he remained at his post for some time.

In the subsequent discussions upon the Catholic
question, however, he continued to advocate their
claims, and finding that the difference of opinion
with his colleagues on such an important question
rendered his position difficult, if not impossible,
he resigned office early in 1796-

At the same time he suffered a sensible loss of
income by the reduction of the Prince of Wales's
household, and he ceased to be his Royal High-

20 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

ness's Secretary ; but notwithstanding he closed his
political career by an act of great generosity. He
distributed to his regiment, then prisoners in France,
and among their wives and children 500 guineas.

Upon the return of the 8yth Regiment to
Chatham, Colonel Doyle rejoined them there early
in 1796.

At this time an expedition was formed against
the Texel, with the hope of surprising the H elder
and destroying the Dutch fleet. The naval part
was committed to the command of Lord Duncan,
and the military forces entrusted to Colonel Doyle
with the rank of Brigadier-General. He accord-
ingly sailed for the coast of Holland early in
October 1796 with the loth and 87th Regiments
and the marines of the Admiral's fleet.

This expedition was prevented from joining the
Texel fleet by contrary winds till October 27th,
when, having held a consultation with the Admiral
and naval officers and pilots, it was unanimously
determined that the boisterous weather in those seas
at this advanced season of the year rendered com-
bined operations in that country difficult, if not
impracticable, and all idea of surprise hopeless.

The next day a gale dispersing the fleet, and
destroying several of the small craft intended for
disembarking the troops, justified this opinion, and
put an end to the expedition, which if feasible at a

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 21

proper season, was rendered totally impracticable
under these circumstances. Otherwise, owing to
the good relations which subsisted beween the two
commanders, there were great hopes of a success.

In 1797 Colonel Doyle was appointed a Briga-
dier-General upon the Staff, and ordered to Gibraltar.
On his journey to Portsmouth accompanied by his
nephew, Brigade-Major — afterwards Sir Charles —
Doyle, in a postchaise, they were suddenly attacked
by highwaymen near Ripley, and a desperate
encounter ensued, in which one of the highwaymen
was killed, another very severely wounded and
afterwards captured, and the General badly wounded
in two places. He was carried to the rector's house
at Ripley and a surgeon sent for. " I am afraid,
my dear General, you are suffering great pain," the
surgeon remarked. " Very great indeed," was the
reply. " May I ask," pursued the surgeon, " what
sort of pain? " " Well," retorted the General, who
never lost his readiness or good humour, " suppose
we call it a shooting pain ! "

As soon as he recovered from his wounds, he
proceeded to Gibraltar, where he remained till the
expedition was determined on for Malta and Egypt,
and he applied to join that army. He was then
placed on the Staff under Abercromby, whom he
accompanied to Minorca, Malta, and Cadiz, and
ultimately became one of his generals upon the

22 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

expedition to Egypt. He served in the capacity of
Brigadier- General under him in the landing at
Aboukir on the 8th March 1801, commanding the
4th Brigade, consisting of the 2nd, 3<Dth, 44th, and
87th, at Mandoza i3th March, at the taking of
Aboukir Castle on March i8th, arid in the action
of March 2ist, when Abercromby was severely
wounded, and shortly afterwards died.

In the action of the 2ist Doyle's brigade bore
the brunt of the attack of the French cavalry, and
suffered very severely. General, afterwards Lord,
Hutchinson having succeeded to the command,
General Doyle continued to command the 4th
Brigade at the subsequent operations.

After the affair of Rahman ie the army halted
at the village of Algam. On the morning of the
1 7th May 1801, the army being encamped upon
the borders of the desert, an Arab was conducted
to General Doyle's camp who brought intelligence
that a body of French troops, computed at 2000
men, was within a few miles of camp, with a large
convoy of camels. General Doyle immediately took
the Arab to headquarters, reported his intelligence,
and at the same time asked permission to pursue
the enemy with the cavalry in camp, leaving
directions with the infantry of his brigade to follow
as fast as they could. General Hutchinson acceded
to his request, and he repaired to camp, where he

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 23

found that the Turkish cavalry had been detached a
day or two before, and that a squadron of the I2th
Dragoons had previous to his arrival been sent to
water at some distance. But he considered that
everything depended upon promptness and expedi-
tion, therefore, without waiting for the absent
squadron, he left an officer to bring it on, and
immediately struck into the desert in search of
the foe. After a long pursuit, the cavalry came
up with them, when the enemy formed a hollow
square and commenced an irregular fire of
musketry. Major Wilson, of Hompeck's Hussars,
volunteered to carry a flag of truce to sum-
mon the enemy to surrender, and Carried the
General's message to the French commander, who
after some parley agreed to the terms.

The following is a copy of the despatch, upon
this occasion, to General Hutchinson : —

LYBIAN DESERT,

\7th May 1801.

SIR, — I beg leave to congratulate you upon the
success of the enterprise which you did me the
honour to entrust to my charge, and I forward
for your approbation the terms upon which the
French commander has surrendered his force, and
the convoy accompanying it, to my detachment.

Agreeably to your orders I proceeded into the
desert, in pursuit of the enemy (stated by the Arab
at 2000 men) with such of the cavalry as I could

24 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

find in camp, amounting to 250 dragoons, leaving
directions with the infantry of my brigade to follow
with as much celerity as the great heat and deep
sand would permit.

I pressed forward with the cavalry as fast as I
could, without blowing the horses, and after a
pursuit of four hours, I came up with the enemy,
who had formed a hollow square, in the centre of
which he placed his convoy of 500 camels, his
cannon, and his colours.

As we came near a file firing commenced by the
enemy, when a flag of truce was sent in by that
gallant officer, Major Wilson of Hompeck's
Dragoons, summoning them to surrender. It is
impossible to say too much of the zeal and persever-
ance of the troops, who marched the entire day in
the desert, without provisions or water, preserving
their usual cheerfulness. I cannot express my
obligations to Colonel Abercrombie for his animated
zeal, and I consider that the success of the enter-
prise was greatly owing to his activity and intel-
ligence. Lieutenant Sutton of the Minorca Regiment
(acting as my A.D.C.) was extremely useful in
encouraging a small body of Arabs to hang upon
the enemy's flanks, and in restraining their im-
petuosity during our parley.

I thank you, sir, for having afforded me the
opportunity of manifesting my zeal for his Majesty's
service, which is all I have to boast. — I have the
honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN DOYLE, Brigadier- General.

To the Hon. Major-General HUTCHINSON, &c., &c.

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 25

Return of prisoners, stores, &c., taken from the
enemy by a detachment of cavalry under command
of Brigadier-General Doyle.

Officers.

Rank and file.

Horses.

Camels.

Cavalry
Artillery
Infantry

8
i
19

190
68
3ii

200

460

28

569

200

460

Two four-pounders and a stand of colours taken
at the same time. One hundred horses and drome-
daries (private property not included).

CAPITULATION

Conditions auxquelles les Troupes aux ordres
du Chef de Brigade Cavalier Commandant le Regi-
ment de dromedaires charge" de 1'escort d'un convoi
allant au Kaire, se rendent aux Troupes Anglaises
command^ par le Ge'ne'ral Doyle.

Articles

1. Les Troupes recevront tous les honneurs

de la guerre, les officiers conserveront
leurs armes, et les soldats ne les dis-
poseront, qu'au Quartier - General des
Troupes Anglaises.

2. Les officiers et les soldats seront conduits en

France, libres de leurs personnes.

26 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

3. Tous les effets appartenant aux officiers,

soldats, et autres personnes a la suite de
la colonne leurs seront conserves.

4. II sera permis aux Troupes Frangaises

d'envoyer au Kaire, et au Alexandrie,
chercher les effets qui leurs appartiennent.

5. Les officiers de sant£ et employe's a la suite

de la colonne seront ^galement conduits en
France.

6. Les chevaux, les chameaux, et les effets des

officiers leur seront conserve's.

7. Tout ce qui appartient au Gouvernement

Frangaise sera remis au Commandant
Anglais.

Fait dans le desert a la hauteur du village
Comnerherie le 27 Floreal, An. 9 de la Republique
Frangaise, repondant au 17 Mai, 1801.
Signe", Cavalier Chef de Brigade.

J. DOYLE, Brigadier- General.
Approuve par le General Commandant en Chef.
J. H. HUTCHINSON.

By some accident, neither this report nor the
accompanying capitulation was ever mentioned in
the official despatch or met the public eye.

On the iQth June 1801 the army, which had
remained in front of Cairo on the banks of the
Nile, received orders to cross the river the next
morning, and the artillery had actually passed over
the bridge of boats that evening. It happened,
however, at this time that Brigade- Major — after-

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 27

wards Sir Charles — Doyle, who had been left
wounded at Rosetta, had obtained the most accu-
rate intelligence of the strength of Cairo from
French prisoners, and also had been able to pre-
vail on a very intelligent person, who had recently
left Cairo, not only to furnish information, but even
to join the British army and offer in person to
accompany the column of attack.

Brigade-Major Doyle at once went to his uncle
the General, and having laid this information be-
fore him, the General was able to use such argu-
ments with the Commander-in-Chief that he was
induced to countermand the orders for the cross-
ing of the river at nine o'clock at night, by a pass
order with his own hand, and not even through
the usual channel of the Staff.

The artillery actually recrossed the river dur-
ing the night, and the army marched next day
to Giza, and the consequence was that the enemy
at once made proposals for the surrender of that
place. This movement decided the fall of Cairo, as
General Donzelot's speech at the Congress shows.

" We saw," said the General, " your intention
of crossing the Nile and commencing your opera-
tions on that side. Be assured we would have
given you three years' contribution of all Egypt to
have attacked us on the Cairo side ; in that event
you would never have heard of this ' Convention.' "

28 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Upon this occasion the Commander-in-Chief,
in his public despatches, expressed his great obli-
gation to General Doyle, and recommended him as
an officer highly deserving his Majesty's favour.

After the surrender of Cairo, many of the
troops suffered greatly from fever. General Doyle
among others was seized with it, and was sent
sick to Rosetta. While he was still suffering from
the effects of his illness, he heard a rumour of an
intended attack upon the French at Alexandria.

Upon this intelligence he left his bed and rode
forty miles through the desert, under an Egyptian
sun, and arrived the night before the attack.
He joined his brigade, and commanded in that
successful enterprise, subsequently defeating an
attempt made by General Menon on a part of
his position.

Now comes his official report (?) to Major-
General Craddock. There does not seem to have
been much red tape about them in those days,
but they do not seem to have fought the worse
for it.

CAMP BEFORE ALEXANDRIA,
17 'th August 1801.

MY DEAR SIR, — I have the honour to enclose
you a return of the killed and wounded of my
brigade in the affair of this morning.

As you were a witness of the gallant con-
duct of the troops, and the several movements of

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 29

the day, it is unnecessary for me to trouble you
with any details, had I even the time to do so.

Colonel Spencer took charge of that column
of the brigade destined for the attack of the
enemy's right wing, and you, who are well
acquainted with him, will not be surprised at his
judicious and spirited conduct during the day.
He speaks in the highest terms of Lieut. -General
Lockhart, 3Oth Regiment, who, under Colonel
Spencer's direction, charged and repulsed a very
superior body of the enemy.

Captains Hamilton and Gray, of the 3Oth
Regiment, were particularly distinguished by their
exertions. — I have the honour to be,

J. DOYLE, Brigadier-General.
To Major-General CRADDOCK, &c. &c.

CAMP BEFORE ALEXANDRIA,
\%>th August 1 80 1.

Return of the killed, wounded, and missing
of the 4th Brigade, under command of Brigadier-
General Doyle, in the affair of Green Hills : —

KILLED.

WOUNDED.

TOTALS.

Rank and
File.

Sub.

Sergts.

Rank and
File.

3oth Regt. . . .

13

i

2

22

38

Soth „ . . . .

i

o

o

4

5

92nd „ . . . .

i

o

i

3

5

A.I.F

i

I

o

3

5

16

2

3

32

53

(Sgd.) J. DOYLE, Brigadier-General.

30 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

The Commander-in-Chief, General Hutchin-
son, in the most animated manner, thanked him
publicly in the field, but unhappily, in writing his
public despatch, -he not only forgot to transmit
General Doyle's official despatch, or mention even
his name or exertion, but actually stated his
brigade to have been commanded by another.

This strikes the ordinary observer as being
rather curious. We have already noticed, under
the same Commander-in-Chief, that neither the
report or the capitulation of the French Drome-
dary Corps, on i7th May 1801, were ever men-
tioned in the official report or met the public
eye, and here is another instance. General, now
Lord Hutchinson, however, in this case, on General
Doyle writing to him, made him a handsome
apology, and wrote to Lord Hobart, the War
Minister, expressing his regret that in a former
despatch he had omitted the name of General
Doyle, of whom he spoke in the highest terms
of praise.

Extract from Letter from General Hutchinson to
Lord Hobart.

MALTA, gth January 1802.

In my last, which alludes to the capture of
Alexandria, I have worded a sentence in so con-
fused and inexplicit a manner as to render it

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 31

doubtful whether Brigadier-General Doyle was
actually present or not with his brigade on that
day. He not only was at their head, but con-
ducted himself, as he always does, in the most
gallant and handsome manner.

I am happy to have this opportunity of
doing justice to the merits of a most active,
diligent, and zealous general officer. — I have the
honour to be (Sgd.) HUTCHINSON.

LORD HOBART.

This letter fortunately arrived in time to enable
Lord Hobart to do justice to this officer, and at
the close of the Session, in moving the thanks
of Parliament to the Army and Navy, his lord-
ship thus notices it : —

" The British army was also entitled to a
high degree of praise : wherever it was engaged
on equal terms it was victorious.

" A great part of our successes during the
war was owing to our military, and although the
valour of all our officers was already so well
known as to render it unnecessary for him to
mention particular facts or individuals, yet there
was one officer whom he should name, because
by mistake no mention had been made of him
in the despatch of Lord Hutchinson, and to pass
him by without notice would be doing an irre-
trievable injury to his fame. The officer he
alluded to was General Doyle. It happened at

32 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

the time his division proceeded to attack a fort
at Alexandria that he was at a distance of near
forty miles away, labouring under a severe illness ;
the moment he heard of the intended attack, he
got out of his bed, rode over the desert, joined
his troops, and fought with the same degree of
bravery which he had always displayed on every
former occasion. His Lordship then read a letter
from General Lord Hutchinson, dated Malta, in
which he expressed his regret that in a former
despatch he had omitted the name of General
Doyle, of whom he spoke in terms of high
praise.

" His Lordship stated he thought it but justice
to state this fact."

Lord Hutchinson also wrote the following letter
on his arrival at Malta : —

MALTA, December 22nd, 1801.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — Though I sincerely regret
the cause of your letter, I am at the same time
extremely happy that you have given me the
opportunity of explaining my conduct. I do
assure you, I had no intention of wounding your
honourable feelings, or of detracting from that
merit, of those services of which no man can be
more sensible than I am.

You would be convinced, from what I said to
you next day, how perfectly satisfied I was with
your conduct ; and indeed I had a feeling at that
time that you had ventured your valuable life

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 33

rashly, in quitting a sick bed to do your duty in
the field, to which your health appeared to me
to be entirely unequal. That sentence in my
letter I confess to be confused and embarrassed,
and not at all conveying my true meaning ; but
I wrote it in extreme haste, broken in upon almost
every moment, and under the pressure of severe
pain. Nothing can afflict me so much as the
wound it has given your feelings, but I hope you
will do me the favour to suppose that it was not
an intentional act upon my part ; and that you
will not entirely condemn me, for one awkward
expression, occasioned by the inadvertance of the
moment, and the pressure of a thousand circum-
stances.

Nothing can be so far from my heart as to
do injustice to those brave men, whom I was so
fortunate to command in Egypt, particularly one
whom I have so much reason to love and esteem.

It was not only on the i/th August I had
reason to applaud your manner of acting, but
during the whole course of a long and arduous
campaign your zealous exertions gave me the
greatest reason to applaud your conduct, and I
shall ever acknowledge them to have been highly
beneficial to the public service. You may be
assured that upon all occasions, and to all persons,
I shall be ever ready to do you that justice which
you deserve ; were I not, it would be a severe
accusation against my own heart and head.

Believe me, what has happened has given
me more pain than I can express. — Believe me

c

34 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

to be, my dear General, truly and affectionately
yours,

(Sgd.) HUTCHINSON, Lieut.-Gen.

After the close of the Egyptian campaign in
1802, General Doyle went to Naples for the
recovery of his health, which had been greatly
shaken by the severe strain he had undergone.
There he remained for some time, and was joined
by his nephew, my grandfather, Sir Francis Doyle,
then a major in the Army on half-pay.

At that time the country to the north of Naples
was infested with hordes of banditti, headed by a
ferocious chief, who, from his barbarity, obtained
the appellation of " The Great Devil "; these bandits
had been in the habit of intercepting despatches and
slaying messengers ; and the British Ambassador at
Naples, being desirous of sending some important
despatches to the Government in London, was at his
wits' end to obtain a trustworthy and confidential
person to carry them. General Doyle volunteered
to do so, and accompanied by his nephew, my grand-
father Sir Francis Doyle, at once set out on his
adventurous ride, and travelling night and day, in
order that the King's service might meet with no
impediment, succeeded in getting the despatches
through to London without delay.

On his arrival in England he was appointed a
Major-General on the Staff and sent to command in

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 35

Guernsey, and shortly afterwards was made Governor
of that island, which from its proximity to the French
coast was at that time a most important garrison.

The peculiar constitution of these islands,
embracing many privileges unknown elsewhere,
renders the government no easy task ; but General
Doyle succeeded in conciliating the affections of the
inhabitants ; the greatest harmony subsisted between
them and the military, and the measures of Govern-
ment for the defence of the island were carried into
effect with a promptitude and liberality unknown
before his time. There were next to no roads in
the island on his arrival, and he at once set to work
to repair this neglect, having often great difficulty in
overcoming the stubborn opposition of the owners
of land through which the roads had to pass ; but by
a mixture of firmness, cajoling, and what would now
be called chaff, he eventually succeeded in carrying
out his object.

There is rather an amusing story of one old
lady, who was particularly obstinate. She had a
great horror of soldiers, said that she feared if
they came to her little farm they would destroy
everything, and entirely declined to allow the road
to be carried through her plot of land.

The General therefore ordered the working
parties to parade at 10 o'clock P.M. ; they worked
through the night, and when the old lady appeared

y> :.

v |

(ft itf« rife

36 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

in the morning, she found the road made, and the
part that passed through her land completed ; and
she was so much astonished and amused that she
never bore any ill-will to the author of the enter-
prise.

The fortifications also, on the sea-coast, being
constructed and kept in repair at the expense of the
States of the island, it frequently happened that in
times of peace they were allowed to fall into decay,
but at best they were on a small and limited scale,
and totally inadequate for the defence of the island.

On the breaking out of the war after the Peace
of Amiens the General found this frontier port ex-
posed to imminent risks from the enterprising spirit
of the enemy, who were at the door, and had at the
time strong armaments in their ports for Louisiana
and Pondicherry, which might have been employed
for the reduction of the Channel Islands.

Here his speeches proved highly beneficial to
the public service. He laid before the States-
General such a short and animated picture of the
public danger that he obtained supplies from them
to an unprecedented amount. They not only voted
large sums for the repair of the old works but they
readily consented to build a number of new forts and
batteries at his requisition, thereby giving a degree
of protection and security that the island had never
before experienced.

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 37

The States-General was so sensible of the great
benefits it derived from General Doyle's measures
that they came to a resolution of an unanimous
vote of thanks, under the great seal of the island, a
distinction the more honourable as it was unpre-
cedented in the annals of their history.

The decision of the States was communicated to
the General in the Assembly, to which he rose and
made the following reply : —

MR. BAILIFF AND GENTLEMEN OF THE STATES,
— This unanimous and flattering mark of your ap-
probation comes upon me as unexpected, as I learn
it has been unprecedented. Had I been apprised
of the honourable distinction, I could ill have ex-
pressed my feelings, but thus taken by surprise by
your goodness, how little can I do justice to the
sentiments it inspires.

I have ever considered that the happiness of the
governed should be the first care of those who
administer government. If this be generally true,
how much more so, when applied to a people, where
not one disloyal, disaffected, or discontented man is
to be found.

If I am so fortunate as to conciliate the affections
of his Majesty's loyal subjects entrusted to my care,
I not only gratify the best feelings of my heart, but
I am confident I must recommend myself to that
revered Sovereign, the whole object of whose life
has been the happiness of his people.

I feel great pride in your unanimous approbation

38 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

of the measures I have adopted for the public safety.
Experience has taught me that the best mode of
resisting an invader is to attack him, while helpless
in his boats, or in the confusion incident to a
landing.

If this idea be well founded as to invasion in
general, it is particularly applicable to our island,
where, from its rocks and currents, an enemy unused
to maritime operations must find additional impedi-
ments to a descent.

I fear your kind partiality overrates my services,
though it does but justice to my anxious wishes for
your welfare.

Much of the merit of the sealine belongs to the
judicious liberality of the States ; their supplies well
deserve that name, when we consider the unequal
and oppressive mode that at present prevails in
levying the taxes in this island, epithets which every
gentleman who has spoken in this day's debate has
concurred in bestowing upon it.

It is highly gratifying to me to learn from
the representatives of the people that their con-
fidence is increased ; be assured that confidence
is reciprocal, and upon the loyalty and courage of
the inhabitants I have the most perfect reliance.

But let me conjure you, by that frankness
which alone belongs to friendship, not to relax or
slumber under the shade of false security, " lest
in that sleep you meet death."

Let no man suppose the blow averted because
it is delayed, else shall we be in the case of the shep-
herd's boy in the fable, and the savage wolf devour

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 39

our unprotected flock. You are the advanced
guard of the Empire ; the eyes of Europe are upon
you. A strait divides you from France. You see
her shores, the enemy is at your gates. He is
enterprising, be you vigilant. He is vindictive.
Your offences are of a nature not to be pardoned.
You are loyal and content, your punishment would
be extirpation. You are engaged in no common
warfare. He comes not for conquest, he is not
content with pillage ; desolation is his object. The
existence of all you hold dear is at stake — property,
liberty, life.

The public gratitude did not end here. The
principal inhabitants presented him with a gold
vase set with diamonds, with the following in-
scription : —

To Major-General JOHN DOYLE, Governor and

Comwiander-in- Chief, Knight of the Crescent,

Colonel of the $>*]th Regiment.

From the inhabitants of the Island of Guernsey,
as a token of their regard and gratitude for his
consistent and strenuous support of their laws and
privileges, for his zeal and indefatigable exertions
in most effectively providing for their defence, and
for the perfect harmony and good understanding
he has by his conciliating manner uniformly pre-
served between the civil and the military. Guernsey,
1 3th June 1804.

40 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Two other public bodies gave him two gold
vases to match, with suitable inscriptions, shortly
afterwards.

Soon after the war breaking out again the
Island of Alderney was placed under the command
of the General, and as this is nearer the enemy's
coast than Guernsey, a great portion of his atten-
tion was directed to this place. The works he
constructed, and the measures of precaution he
took for its defence, were deemed so effectual that
they gave the fullest confidence and security to the
inhabitants.

The States-General, as a mark of their esteem,
presented him with a gold snuff-box set with
diamonds and rubies-

One of the vases and the snuff-box is now in
my brother's possession.

He dosed his career in Guernsey by a measure
which well deserves to be recorded, and shows the
influence he had obtained over the islanders. This
was getting a general assembly of all the islanders
to vote an additional impost being placed upon
them, a general tax upon property which they had
hitherto conceived to be unconstitutional. The
enormous expense of placing the island in a state
of defence had exhausted the ordinary funds in
the Treasury, and recourse had to be had to some
new supply.

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 41

There was a mass of opposition to the measure,
but the meeting took place in the town church, as
there was no other public building large enough
to contain the number of voters. The General
opened the proceedings by a most able speech ;
he spoke for an hour and three-quarters to an
absolutely silent house, and the result of his elo-
quence was such that the measure was carried by
a three to one majority.

In 1805 t^ie General was created a Baronet
of the United Kingdom, and was further granted
the addition of supporters to his arms ; for one
supporter he took a soldier of his regiment, the
8;th ; and, for the other, a soldier of the I2th Light
Dragoons. The following is a letter written to the
officer commanding the I2th Light Dragoons on
the subject: —

ST. JAMES'S PALACE, LONDON,
December 1805.

MY DEAR SIR, — His Majesty having been
pleased to honour my humble services with a
further mark of his royal favour, by granting
me the addition of supporters to my arms, I seized
that opportunity to manifest my grateful recollec-
tion of the zeal and good conduct of the 1 2th Light
Dragoons while under my command in Egypt. I
have accordingly chosen a dragoon of that regi-
ment as one of my supporters, bearing in his hand
the French colours taken with the convoy in the

42 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

desert, which is mentioned in his Majesty's
patent, and recorded in the archives of the
Heralds' College.

I trust my friends of the I2th will not be dis-
pleased with this small mark of my regard for a
corps which, from what I have witnessed, I con-
fidently predict will upon all occasions support its
own character. — I have the honour to be, sir,

(Signed) J. DOYLE, Major-General.

Lt.-Col. BROWNE,

Commander I2th Light Dragoons.

Sir John Doyle continued to command in
Guernsey till 1812. He was made a Lieutenant-
General in 1808.

The Gentleman's Magazine, November 1834,
says that he was selected to reorganise the Portu-
guese army in place of Marshal Beresford, and
was only prevented by the packet containing the
orders being unable to reach Guernsey through
gales and contrary winds. This I do not believe.

My father, however, always told me that Sir
John had been offered the command of the small
army collected at Cork, destined for a landing in
Spain or Portugal ; that the order could not be
got through to Guernsey owing to gales and con-
trary winds ; and that, after waiting eleven days,
Lieutenant - General Sir Arthur Wellesley was
appointed to the command of the force, which
subsequently sailed in July, and landed at Figuera

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 43

in Portugal on August i, 1808, and which began
the operations in the Peninsula. He also told
me that about 1832 the papers got hold of this
information, and several articles were published
jeering at and ridiculing the idea of Sir John
Doyle taking command in the Peninsular War,
and pointing out what luck we always had, and
how even the elements fought for England.

This made the old gentleman — he was then
about seventy-six — very angry. He said any-
thing he had been given to do he had done
satisfactorily, and he didn't see why he should
be exposed to the scorn of the multitude in his
old age.

Of course, now the idea of Sir John taking the
place of the Duke of Wellington does seem absurd,
but it must be remembered that then he had the
American War, Flanders, and Egypt, in all of
which he had greatly distinguished himself, to his
credit ; while Sir Arthur Wellesley, with the ex-
ception of Copenhagen, had not had much service
except in India ; and while America was looked
upon as the hardest campaign that the British
army had ever been engaged in, India at that
time was not much regarded.

On the whole, however, I am not disposed to
disagree with the papers, and I think perhaps the
elements did fight for England when they pre-

44 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

vented the orders to command the expeditionary
force from reaching him, and substituted Sir Arthur
Wellesley instead.

He appears to have remained on in Guernsey
till about 1813, and on leaving there his active
life closed. He became M.P. for the Isle of
Wight, but only remained in Parliament about two
years. I never heard that he spoke in the British
House of Commons, and I don't even know what
his politics were. After leaving the island a column
was raised to him by public subscription, the
only inscription on it being " Doyle — Gratitude,"
which is still standing.

He lived principally in London in Grafton
Street, with a niece or great-niece, who after-
wards became the first Lady Lytton, and who, from
all accounts, must have been rather a difficult
person to live with.

In 1810 he was created a K.B., which after
the reorganisation of the Order after 1815 was
changed to the Grand Cross. He was supposed
to be a most brilliant talker and an extraordinarily
pleasant diner out. The following is one instance.
At a dinner given by the King some great ex-
plorer was present and was telling one wonderful
story after another ; at last he said that in some
place he had come upon bugs as big as the palm
of a man's hand. The King, not unnaturally, was

DOYLE MONUMENT, JERBERG, GUERNSEY

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 45

rather incredulous, and asked several people what
they thought; at last he turned and said, "Sir
John, you have been a great traveller ; have you
ever come across these animals?" "Oh yes, your
Majesty, very often," was the reply ; '* they call
them humbugs ! "

In 1819 he was persuaded to revisit Guernsey.
The populace received him with acclamation, but
as the States-General were sitting at the time of
his arrival they could not understand why they
took no notice of it. About two hours afterwards
they waited on him in a body at his hotel, and
explained that they were settling the last question
with regard to the roads of the island, which he
had inaugurated when Governor, and they thought
that it would be a greater compliment to be a little
late and inform him that his schemes were com-
pleted, than to be punctual without that information.

Between 1823 and 1825 there was a most unjust
and virulent attack upon Lord Hastings' adminis-
tration in India. Sir John, feeling this very much,
purchased the requisite amount of East India Stock
— I believe it had to be ^"2000 — for the purpose of
defending him before the Board, and in 1825 made
a great speech at the India House. The speech is
not forthcoming, but there are a great many letters
of congratulation, so I expect it must have been
rather good.

46 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT
One from Sir Stephen Rolleston : —

45 PARLIAMENT STREET,
April 2$rdt 1825.

MY DEAR FRIEND, — I was highly delighted in
the perusal of the very able and eloquent speech
of yours at the India House. It was certainly a
most triumphant refutation of all the malicious
insinuations against the very meritorious and
honourable conduct of your illustrious friend, who
cannot fail to read it with feelings of the warmest
gratitude and regard. I am truly astonished how
you could condense and simplify such a huge mass
of heterogeneous matter, and bring the important
question at issue within the comprehension of
persons the most uninformed on all Eastern
questions.

From what I saw in the newspapers I began
to be apprehensive that you might, before these
discussions were over, allow your honest indigna-
tion to get the better of your usual courtesy, and
become somewhat too personal. But I see you can
use a keen razor with a dexterous hand. — Ever
most cordially yours,

STEPHEN ROLLESTON.

Gen. Sir JOHN DOYLE, Bart., G.C.B.

One from Mr. Baron Graham : —

BEDFORD SQUARE, May 21, 1825.
DEAR SIR, — I have now perused, more than

GENERAL SIR JOHN DOYLE, BART. 47

once, your able defence of your great friend, in
every sense, from the malignant insinuations of
some, and the silence of others, which countenances
them. I have read it with great satisfaction as
the speech of a gentlemen, a man of taste and of
generous feeling, and allowing for human vanity,
you will not, I hope, consider it a slight com-
mendation when I say that it is a speech which
at the best of my life I should have been proud to
have been thought capable of making. Yours most
obediently, R. GRAHAM.

Gen. Sir JOHN DOYLE, Bart.

Towards the end of his life his nephew, Sir
John Milly Doyle, persuaded him to invest large
sums of money in Spain and Portugal, but the un-
settled government rendered any schemes abortive,
and the loss of money, and also anxiety for the
fate of his nephew, who was an object of hatred
to Don Miguel, preyed upon the poor old gentle-
man's mind, and he died in 1834 at the age
of seventy-eight.

In the Gentleman s Magazine of that date it
states that towards the end of his life he was
known to the army as " Popularity Jack." At
the time of his death he was second Senior
General in the Army, and held one or two
sinecure appointments, such as Governor of Charl-
mount Fort.

48 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

To recapitulate his services : —

Sir John Doyle had been in twenty - three
general actions besides innumerable minor affairs,
eight times wounded, and nine times thanked in
Parliament.

•
-

.

•

MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE

MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS
DOYLE

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE, before mentioned, was
born in 1758, and was thus two years younger
than his brother, Sir John. He was a man ol
a different type to his elder brother, scarcely as
amiable, with less of what is commonly called
talent ; but he possessed an immense force of
character and a power of dominating others, which
is one of the most difficult of human powers to
explain or understand. He was appointed an
Ensign in the 55th Foot on the i2th December
1770, and Lieutenant the i7th February 1773.
The enthusiasm that he displayed is supposed to
have infected his elder brother, Sir John, who was
originally intended for the Bar, and did not join
the Army until 1774. On the war breaking out
in America Doyle accompanied his regiment to
that country, and took part with them in the
various actions they were engaged in. He was
appointed Captain- Lieutenant in the 55th Foot,
5th November 1777.

In 1778 Lord Rawdon, afterwards Moira, and
first Marquis of Hastings, formed a regiment in

49 D

50 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Philadelphia out of Irish who were constantly
deserting from the enemy's ranks. The corps was
called the " Volunteers of Ireland," and Captain
Doyle was appointed Lieut.-Colonel.

Like many other officers in provincial corps, he
seems to have sold his commission in the 55th,
as his name disappears from the Army List at
that date.

Though the officers were specially selected,
the " Volunteers of Ireland " were a difficult lot to
manage, as, if anything occurred which put them
out, they would desert back to the enemy's lines
without the smallest compunction. A curious story
is told of how this was stopped. A deserter
caught in the act was handed over to his com-
rades to be adjudged ; the officers were ordered
to withdraw, and twenty minutes afterwards his
body was dangling from a tree. This example
proved to be most effectual, and affairs improved
considerably ; but imagine in the present day what
a row there would be if anything of the sort
occurred. When there was fighting to be done,
the Volunteers of Ireland appeared at their best ;
they were commanded by Welbore Ellis Doyle
at the first Battle of Camden, where they lost
half the number killed and wounded of the whole
force, and were favourably mentioned by Lord
Cornwallis.

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 51

At the second Battle of Cam den, or Hobkirk
Hill, where he again commanded them, and the
officer commanding the force was their full Colonel,
Lord Rawdon, their list of casualties was even
greater.

In 1782, as a reward for their services, the
Volunteers of Ireland were formed into the regular
army, and numbered 105 of the Line ; and Lord
Rawdon and Welbore Ellis Doyle were respec-
tively gazetted Colonel and Lieut. -Colonel, date
2ist March 1782. Doyle had been twice wounded
during the war.

In 1783 the regiment was disbanded on the
Peace, and the officers placed on half-pay. Wel-
bore Ellis Doyle remained on half-pay till 1789,
but during these six years he was some time
Military Envoy, or, I suppose, what would be
called now Military Attache", at Warsaw. The
first partition of Poland had taken place about ten
years previously, when nearly one-third of Poland
had been swallowed up by Prussia, Russia, and
Austria, as about 4000 square miles had gone to
these three Powers.

Charles Whitworth, afterwards Lord Whit-
worth and our Ambassador in Paris, was Minister
there at this time. His letters at the Record
Office deal with matters of trade, and are not of
any great general interest, so that I the more

52 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

regret that I have been unable to find any letters
of my great-grandfather. He must have been
sent there for some purpose ; and if they could
be found, there would probably be reports of the
state of the defensive forces of the country, and
possibly of the life of the Court there, which would
have been very interesting, He was certainly
there in 1787, as his second son, Carlo Joseph
Doyle, was born there in that year, and was called
after the Emperor Joseph II., he being his god-
father. From this fact I thought it possible that
Welbore Ellis Doyle might have been in some way
attached to the Embassy in Vienna, but this does
not seem to have been the case.

I forgot to say that Welbore Ellis married
in early life Frances, the beautiful daughter of
Mark Rainsford, Esq., of Saleen, County Kildare.
Originally an Essex family, they had long been
settled in Ireland, and Frances was the great-
granddaughter of a Rainsford who was Mayor of
Londonderry when that town was besieged by
James II. He had two sons, Francis Hastings,
my grandfather, born 1783, and Carlo Joseph,
born 1787.

Mrs. Doyle married secondly, in 1801, Prince
Joseph de Monaco.

He appears to have been popular with the
Poles, and to have lived on intimate terms with

FRANCES, DAUGHTER OF MARK RAINSFORD, ESQ., WIFE OF

MAJOR-GENERAL WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE

AFTERWARDS PRINCESS JOSEPH DE MONACO

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 53

one distinguished family of the name of Potinksky,
or something of that sort. A daughter of the
house, a great favourite of his, was about to be
married, when one morning she appeared before
him with a very solemn aspect, holding a paper
in her hand. " I have to ask you, my dear
Colonel, to take charge of this document ; it is my
formal protest against the marriage I am about
to contract."

The Colonel was horrorstruck, and said : "My
dear child, if the proposed alliance is so odious
to you, let me intercede with your father and
mother ; they have professed a great friendship
for me, and I may be able to persuade them not
to drag you to the altar against your will."

This, however, did not suit the lady's book at
all. She said : "I am quite glad to marry now,
only ten years hence Casmir may not suit me as
well as he does at present, and if I can point
out that I formally protested at the time of my
espousals, I shall be able to divorce him and go
my own way."

Whether the young lady was right in her view
of ecclesiastical law, or what happened to the
couple, I never heard ; but this is the only story
handed down of my great-grandfather's sojourn in
Poland.

In March 1789 he exchanged to full pay as

54 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Colonel of the i4th Foot on its return from Jamaica.
In 1793 this battalion formed one of the regi-
ments of the Duke of York's force in Flanders,
and to show how troops were treated in those days,
Fortescue states that the i4th was the only regi-
ment in the force that had greatcoats, and they
had been provided by private subscription.

On the 23rd May 1793, the French fortified
camp of Famars was stormed by the British troops
under the Duke of York, the i4th leading.

The following is a description of what happened,
by an eye-witness. The French attack was so
fierce that the regiment wavered for a minute, when
Colonel Doyle, dashing to the front, shouted in a
loud voice, " Come along, my lads, let's break these
scoundrels to their own d — d tune ; drummers,
strike up ' (Ja ira.' " The effect was irresistible, and
the French were swept over the ridge ; and this is why
the French revolutionary tune " (Ja ira " has been
the authorised march past of the i4th Regiment
ever since, and is to-day the march past of the i4th
West Yorkshire.

At the siege of Valenciennes, Lieutenant-
Colonel Doyle was selected by the Duke of York
to lead the stormers on July 27, 1793 > one parti-
cular redoubt believed to be mined was his point of
attack. Having paraded the regiment, he said :
" My lads, the General has done us great honour.

a a

p-' 2

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O -3
P |

W .£

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MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 55

We have been selected to perform an important —
and I will not disguise from you, a dangerous — duty.
We have to carry that redoubt, said to be mined
underneath, and we must therefore carry it so rapidly
that the enemy may not have time as he retires to
blow us up together. I want 100 of you to follow
me there. Volunteers, ground arms." The whole
regiment grounded their arms, and the Colonel said,
" Very good, I take the 100 next for duty," and
with these 100 next for duty the redoubt was
stormed in such a fashion that the enemy had no
time to explode their mine. On the 28th of July
1793, in consequence of this action, Valenciennes
surrendered.

Shortly after this he was made a Brevet-
Colonel. He took part with his regiment in the
Battle of Turcoing, and in the retreat of the Duke
of York's column, owing to the want of support of
Clarfait and the Austrians, but in 1794 was sum-
moned to return to England, and became Adjutant-
General, with the rank of Brigadier-General, to a
force commanded by Lord Moira, destined to help
the rising in La Vendee. The English Govern-
ment had, however, waited too late, as the Ven-
de"eans had been badly mauled at Savenay, and this
force, which amounted to about 10,000 men, landed
at Ostend.

The garrison of that place were transferred by

56 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

sea to Flushing on the ist of July 1794 ; but on the
3Oth June, the day before, Moira's force started into
the interior to the assistance of the Duke of York,
and after a most difficult march through a country
already in possession of a victorious enemy, he got
into communication with the Austrian General
Clarfait, who, astonished at his success, received him
with the compliment, " Milord, vous avez su faire
1'impossible."

He reached Alost on July 6th, where he was
immediately attacked by the French. Though the
troops were much exhausted by their rapid and
hazardous marches, the enemy were repulsed in
severe actions on the 6th and 7th July, and Moira's
force joined the Duke of York on July 8th.

They held the Brussels-Antwerp Canal, and
were attacked by the French on July i2th, and
driven back to Mechlin or Malines. Moira on the
1 3th made a most gallant and successful counter-
attack, and drove the enemy back, but was again
forced to retire on the i6th into Malines. The com-
bined army fell back upon Antwerp, with Moira's
force as a rear guard, and after a week's delay there,
the English crossed the Scheldt and abandoned the
country to the south to the French, who had many
sympathisers among the Dutch and Belgians.

The success of this march from Ostend to the
Duke of York was partly owing to a plan that was

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 57

adopted of ordering rations to be collected for a force
of 25,000 men. This gave the French the idea that
the force advancing to the assistance of the Duke
was much stronger than it was, and Pichegru actually
thought that number was in the field, and did not ven-
ture to attack them till they arrived at Alost, when
he had got up his reserves. It is curious afterwards
to hear that the Government declined to pay the
bill for the rations for the 15,000 men that did not
exist, and referred the contractor to Lord Moira,
who declined to pay during his lifetime, but it
was afterwards recovered from his widow, Lady
Hastings.

After crossing the Scheldt there was a rearrange-
ment of commands, and Brigadier-General Doyle
returned home, being promoted a Major-General
26th February 1795, and made Governor of
Southampton.

While in command there the Government
formed a project to send an expedition to Quiberon,
which was to be accompanied by a member of the
Royal Family of France, to assist the Vende*eans to
rise against the Republican Government.

At first it was to consist of a considerable body
of troops under Lord Moira, but the Government
found they could not get the requisite number
together. General Doyle was then ordered to
take command of the troops, which were destined

58 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

for some island in the neighbourhood of La
Vendee.

H.R.H. Monsieur (the Comte d'Artois) was to
accompany the force, and they were to wait for a
favourable opportunity for making a descent upon
the coast.

I don't suppose any General was ever worse
treated than was my great-grandfather by Mr.
Dundas, as the following letters will show.

The first letter is one with reference to remounts
for the expedition, to the Duke of Portland, who was
then a member of the Government. The remount
establishment does not seem in a very satisfactory
state.

SOUTHAMPTON, ijth July 1795.

MY LORD, — Major-General Graham having put
your Grace's letter of the i5th inst. into my hand at
the moment of embarking, I have the honour to
state the following for your information.

Major-General Graham sailed yesterday with
the 1 2th and 8oth Regiments for Cowes.

There were embarked 174 horses for the com-
missariat. The 1 4th Regiment sailed this day, the
wind at west.

There are now ready for embarkation —

191 horses under the care of the commissariat.

83 horses from the Artillery at Portsmouth.

157 horses under care of a detachment 4th
Light Dragoons, of which 8 are g lander ed, 25 lame

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 59

and blind, and the rest in a very unfit state for
service of any sort.

To receive which horses, there are not any
vessels here, but the Agent of Transports is apprised
of some vessels coming capable of containing 1 20
horses. — I have the honour to be, my lord, your
obedient servant,

(Signed) WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Major- General.
His Grace THE DUKE OF PORTLAND, &c. &c.

A note on the 2ist July 1795 to say that the
fort and peninsula of Quiberon were taken by
assault at 3 A.M.

A letter from Huskisson at the Horse Guards

to Lord Moira : —

HORSE GUARDS,

17 th August 1795.

MY LORD, — I regret very much that the number
of men embarked under Major-General Doyle should
fall so far short of the intended force destined for
the expedition against Noirmoutier, and that the
arrangements render it impossible to spare even
another regiment.

You are authorised to advance to Monsieur for
his support and that of his staff ,£10,000, as the
donation had better not take the form of pay.

It is hoped that this may last for a considerable
time, and that when next H.R.H. requires money
it need not be forthcoming from this country. —
I am, your obedient servant,

(Signed) HUSKISSON.

60 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

I wonder how long the ;£ 10,000 lasted !
When Lord Moira received these French princes
at Donnington, among them Monsieur, he put a
blank cheque-book signed at every leaf in each
of their rooms. My father told me he believed
the whole entertainment of the French princes cost
the Hastings family something between three and
four hundred thousand pounds and almost entirely
ruined them. The only acknowledgment he ever
received when the Monarchy was restored to
France, was a picture of each of the three princes
he entertained, which used to hang in the hall at
Donnington.

A letter from Huskisson to General Doyle,
stating that as the public prints point to Noir-
moutier as the probable destination of the expedi-
tion, it may be necessary to go somewhere else.

The first letter from General Doyle to the
Secretary of State for War points out the necessity
of forwarding supplies ; this goes on through every
letter afterwards.

H.M.S. JASON, off the Isle of Wight,
August 1795.

SIR, — The French cavalry joined the convoy
last night at St. Heliers ; the whole sailed this
morning at five o'clock.

I beg leave to mention that it is essential that
forage should be sent after us, as well for the

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 61

waggon horses as for the cavalry ; the former
amount to 1000, the latter to 900.

From what I hear of the state of the place we
first go to, it will be necessary to have a supply
of fresh provisions sent after us. — I have the
honour to be, your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.

Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS, &c. &c. &c.

It appears from the next letter that a ship with
powder and arms for Venddeans, and which was
promised, was never despatched.

H.M.S. JASON, at sea off Ushant,
%th September 1795.

SIR, — I take the opportunity of Sir Edward
Pelham going to England to state that the troops
are all well and the convoy all together, except
two or three small brigs, which have horses on
board.

I fear I shall find a considerable loss of horses
from the bad weather we had on Friday and
Saturday last. Some ships have lost six, some
eight.

I beg leave to state, from the length of time
we have been at sea, it will be absolutely necessary
to send a supply of forage after us, and also fresh
provisions will be much wanted at the place of
our destination.

The ship with the powder has not yet joined
the convoy, and his Royal Highness expresses great

62 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

anxiety on the subject. — I have the honour to be

your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Major- General.
The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

The next letter is from Quiberon Bay and
details the intercourse with Charette. Sir John
Warren was the Admiral at Quiberon.

H.M.S. JASON,

September 15^, 1795.

SIR, — We arrived in the Bay on the i2th, and
an arrangement immediately took place between
Sir John Warren and myself to proceed as soon as
possible to the place of our destination.

In consequence we have sent letters of advice to
the chief, with whom we are to co-operate.

His answer we hope to receive at the place we
indicated, and to-morrow we sail.

I am not sufficiently acquainted with circum-
stances to give you hopes, or to damp any that you
may entertain. All I can say is, that all that
depends on the exertion of the troops confided to
me I am certain will be executed, and rest assured
I shall not wantonly expose the valuable corps
committed to my charge.

With respect to the force of our friends and
enemies, I am obliged to Sir John Warren for
information, but have taken precautions to be in-
formed in future. The enemy is said to have —

1 2,000 men on the coast of Brittany.

12,000 or 14,000 at Rennes.

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 63

15,000 under Conclos in or near Nantes.

4,000 from the North have been added.

Of these it is stated that Charette has destroyed
and dispersed nearly 8,000.

A great part of the Western army returned from
Spain are on the Islands of Rhee and Oleron — said
to amount to 18,000 or 20,000 men.

The forces on our side amount to —

Charette at Belleville, 25,000 to 30,000 men.

Staffleth on the other side of the Loire, 24,000.

Suspencaux on the other side of the Loire,
1 8,000.

It is said that the number of the Chouans at
Rennes amount to 30,000.

In short, it is reported that all Brittany are
Chouans, and are only kept down by force of troops,
who are obliged to keep within their garrisons and
march out in force. I beg to remind you that the
powder promised did not come with us, and every-
thing depends on these people being supplied with
arms, ammunition, &c., without which the object
of this expedition, though successful, would be
defeated.

I have to state that with regard to the army
under my command, whether we succeed or not, it
is material that fresh provisions should be sent
to us.

All the islands are exhausted.

Another essential to be furnished is fuel,
whether we succeed in our attempt or return to
these islands, the ships not having a sufficient
supply, and that article being deficient in all the

64 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

islands on this coast. — I have the honour to be,
sir, your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.

The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

THE JASON, offHedic,

"2yd September 1795.

SIR, — The person we sent to Charette1 found
him at Belleville, and has returned to us accom-
panied by General d' Abbe" of the Royal and Catholic
Army.

Charette requires six days to assemble his
force, and make the necessary disposition for
marching towards the coast.

He can bring 12,000 men, and has to attack
four places before he can co-operate with us —
Machiconi, Challons, Bauvoir, and Bonin.

General d'Abbe" states that Staffleth has
30,000 men, but has not yet begun to act, nor
will he till he receives a supply of powder.

It is very important that the powder ship
which was to have come with us should be for-
warded immediately. I beg leave to state the
necessity of sending forage for the cavalry and

1 Charette de la Conterie, chief of the bands of Vendeeans
between La Roche sur Yon and the coast. He was descended from
a Breton family, and had served six years in the French navy ; but
had married a rich widow, and had settled upon her estate in the
neighbourhood of Machecoul. He was of an extremely lazy disposi-
tion, and great pressure had to be brought upon him to accept the
command of the Chouan bands ; but his loyalty was undoubted ;
he knew the country well, and the country people had a great
opinion of his ability and courage.

••

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 65

fresh provisions. — I have the honour to be, sir,
your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.

The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

The question of financing the royalists in
La Vende"e must have been a very difficult one,
as it appears there were a large number of them
who wished to do nothing, and be well paid for
doing it.

THE JASON, offHedic,
2yd September 1795.

SIR, — . . . I beg leave to mention I have only
about £7000 left in dollars, and as we cannot draw
for money, it will be necessary to send us a supply.

If, as is hoped, a great part of the Republican
army will join provided their pay is assured, I have
only about ,£50,000 for this purpose, and large
demands are made from Brittany.

I have been obliged to decline sending any
more to that country, except ^5000, neither shall
I, till I receive further instructions. — I have the
honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.
Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

The next letter is one from General Doyle to
Admiral Sir John Warren, relative to an attack
on the Island of Noirmoutier.

E

COulanu

66 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

H.M.S. JASON,
•z^th September 1795.

MY DEAR SIR JOHN, — I feel myself extremely
pressed by his Royal Highness to make an im-
mediate attack on the Island of Noirmoutier, the
taking of which is certainly the principal object
of the expedition, and of course that which I have
most at heart. Yet it is under the following
circumstances only, with the curtailed force that I
have, that I think myself justified in making the
attempt.

First, that Charette should come to the coast
to co-operate. Secondly, that the possession of
Noirmoutier should appear to him to be so material
as it does to others.

This, the following extract from his letter gives
me reason to doubt : —

"Le succe"s alors eut ete" infaillible, on bien
que je ne puis vous dissimuler, qu'il est au moins
douteux dans le plan arret6.

" II se presente encore un autre inconvenient qu'il
est, que Noirmoutier pris, si je ne suis pas assez
heureux pour forcer les postes qui interceptent le
passage ; 1'enemie se portera infailliblement en
nombre sur la cote, r^unira toutes ses forces des-
semin£es dans differents garnisons, me coupera
toute communication et m'opposera longtemps assez
de resistance pour que je ne puisse vous etes d'aucun
secours."

From this abstract, I am of opinion that it is
not Charette's wish to come down to the coast
at this instant.

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 67

I shall have everything in readiness, but should
prefer to take Isle d'Yeu, till it should suit Charette
to join. — I am, my dear Sir John, truly yours.

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.
Admiral Sir JOHN WARREN, Bart.

The attempt upon Noirmoutier seems to have
been given up, and it was decided to take Isle
d'Yeu, as the following letter shows : —

BAY OF BOURGNEUF, H.M.S. POMONA,
September 1795.

SIR, — I take this opportunity of informing you
that it has not been judged expedient to attack
the Island of Noirmoutier, chiefly because Charette
did not wish to come to that part of the coast.
Charette sent me word that the garrison was
I5OO1 men, with 100 guns, and capable of being
supplied with reinforcements from Marchoni, Chal-
lons, and Bauvoir. You know that the number of
British troops fall very short of what was thought
right for such an expedition, and the French troops
found at Quiberon are equally deficient.

Major-General Needham sails this evening for
the Isle d'Yeu with 1200 men. I have every reason
to hope that he will succeed in taking possession
of it. — I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient
servant, WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Major- General.

To the Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

1 I have elsewhere seen the number of the garrison of Noirmou-
tier put as high as 15,000, but I don't know which is the right
estimate.

68 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

ISLE D'YEU, Oct. 4, 1795.

SIR, — I have the honour to inform you that in
obedience to my instructions I have taken posses-
sion of the Isle d'Yeu.

It surrendered to Major-General Needham on
the 3Oth. I beg to enclose his report.

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.

Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

ISLE D'YEU, September y>th, 1795.

SIR, — In consequence of orders received from
you, the troops under my command sailed on
September 28th for the Island of Yeu, which, on
the 3Oth, surrendered to the King of Great Britain
and Ireland. — I have the honour to be, sir, your
obedient servant, FRANK NEEDHAM,

Major- General.
Major-General DOYLE.

The following is a list of arms, &c., captured :—

i8-pounder guns .... six.
6-pounder guns .... three.
Various stores.

FRANK NEEDHAM,

Major- General.
Major-General DOYLE.

The next letter is a cry not to be left to perish
on a rock in the Bay of Biscay for want of
provisions.

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 69

ISLE D'YEU, 7th October 1795.

SIR, — I beg leave to state that the very exist-
ence of this small army depends upon the imme-
diate despatch of —

Fuel.

Forage for 2000 horses.
Fresh provisions.
Money for troops-

Horses are being kept alive on 6 Ibs. of Indian
corn a day, with nothing else to eat at all. — I have
the honour to be, your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Major- General.
The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

The next letter shows that the situation is so
serious that General Doyle sends home Brigadier-
General Murray to interview Ministers, and try
and obtain some relief for the starving men

and officers.

ISLE D'YEU, \Tth October 1795.

SIR, — I am sorry to inform you that the vessel
in which were my last despatches, under the care
of Major Clive, has fallen into the hands of the
enemy. The duplicate I send you by Colonel
Murray, Quartermaster-General, whom I had ap-
pointed to act as Brigadier-General. My position
is such that I think it absolutely necessary to send
home a person who is capable of giving you every
information relative to our political and military

70 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

situation, and to Colonel Murray I refer you for
every circumstance concerning the army.

He will state our numerous wants ; the first
and most essential to be attended to is provisions.
— I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient

servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Major-General.
The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

ISLE D'YEU, 22nd October 1795.

SIR, — I beg leave to state that I now have to
feed 5500 persons, and that in a short time rations
must be provided for the inhabitants of this island,
who amount to 2250 souls.

Let me entreat you to send us some vessels
with beef and pork.

Not having it in my power to supply the
cavalry, I have sent them home-

I have only with me therefore 500 horses,
but these must soon die unless forage is sent
out directly. — I have the honour to be, sir, your
obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE.

The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

Of the 1400 horses sent home, Fortescue states
that about 400 perished from exhaustion and were
thrown overboard on the passage.

A letter from Colonel Murray in London to
Mr. Huskisson, begging him to order some stores
out for the officers on the islands, and stating that

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 71

there are 400 officers, English and French, without
the common necessaries of life.

ISLE D'YEU, ind November 1795.

SIR, — I have the honour to enclose you a
duplicate of my last despatch.

Sir J. Warren has been forced to sail from
this roadstead ; from his great exertions and zeal
we hope some small supply will be sent us from
Quiberon, to assist till we receive something from
England.

We fear some accident must have happened
to vessels coming out, as I have never yet received
any letters since I sailed from England. — I have
the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,
Major- General.

The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

I believe no accident happened at all to vessels
going out. Fortescue states Mr. Dundas had a
way of sending off a body of troops and then
washing his hands of them for two or three months,
till some extremely unpleasant news forced them
on his attention again.

ISLE D'YEU, ith November 1795.

SIR, — I received a small supply of provisions
I expected from Quiberon, which for the present
relieves me of a very great anxiety.

It is impossible to say how much we are in-
debted to Sir J. Warren and his squadron.

72 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Captain Keats and Captain Durham have been
indefatigable. The great attention we have re-
ceived from these gentlemen I shall ever gratefully
remember.

I am happy to inform you that our men are
much more healthy, and the necessary works for
the defence of the island are nearly completed.

I have not yet had any official letters, which
induces me to suppose some accident must have
happened to your despatches. We are extremely
in want of forage. — I have the honour to be, sir,
your obedient servant,

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,
Major- General.

The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

At this time affairs were in such a state that
Fortescue says there was not even a candle among
the whole force on the island.

ISLE D'YEU, 14^ November 1795.

SIR, — I received your despatch of the i6th ultimo.
I feel highly flattered that his Majesty has approved
of my conduct. I have delivered the letter enclosed
to H.R.H. Monsieur.

I shall make every arrangement that depends
upon me to comply with the instructions you sent me,
relative to the return of the troops under my com-
mand, but from the danger of the roadstead and want
of transports, our embarkation at this season of the
year will be attended with infinite difficulty.

I beg leave to mention, should we be detained

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 73

till the spring, that this island is not in danger from
surprise.

I do not wish to give an opinion as to its safety
against a regular attack, but I am perfectly con-
fident of the exertions of the officers and men I
have the honour to command, in all situations.

My apprehensions, since we have been here,
have been more from the want of provisions, than
from the enemy. — I have the honour to be, sir, your
obedient servant,

(Signed) WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Commander- in- Ch ief.
The Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

Apparently the belated despatch of the iQth
October appointed General Doyle Commander-in-
Chief of the forces, I suppose in that part of the
world ; as this is the first time he signs himself in
that capacity.

I do not suppose it can have given him any
authority over the navy.

Sir John Warren had been sent to some other
part of the world, and his place had been taken by
Admiral Harvey.

With him General Doyle does not seem to
have got on so well, from the extremely formal
and rather nasty letter to him of November 27,
1795. To Mr. Dundas he writes the following,
so that there must have been a sudden change in
plans : —

74 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

ISLE D'YEU, November 19, 1795.

SIR, — I have been much embarrassed by the
sudden change in arrangements.

I feel myself obliged to disembark the cannon,
and to establish everything for placing the island in
the same state as it was. The possibility oi being
attacked, or even insulted, leaves me no choice but
to put everything in the best state of defence. — I
have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,
Commander-in- Chief.

Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

Here is his letter to Admiral Harvey : —

ISLE D'YEU, November 27, 1795.

SIR, — I have been honoured with your letter of
the 25th and 26th inst., by the Experiment lugger.

It is impossible for me to say anything relative
to the retardment that has taken place, in carrying
into execution the orders received for the evacua-
tion of this island.

You know best those you have received, and
you are certainly the best judge how far you thought
yourself justified in making the attempt to embark
the troops. I must, however, observe that had
even those ships of war you sent remained two or
three days, the business — so anxiously wished for by
H.M. Ministers — had been completely effected.

The 2Oth, 2 ist, 22nd, and 23rd of this month, or
any two of those days, were sufficient to embark the
troops, a rear guard excepted, which was desired to

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 75

remain till the 25th or 26th, when the spring tide
would allow the vessels in the port to float.

After what you have said of the danger of the
squadron it does not become me to say anything ;
you know your orders, and I did myself the honour
fully to communicate mine to you.

I shall, therefore, tranquilly await the event, but
have to inform you it will take infinitely more time
to embark the whole troops and horses at any future
period, than it would have done when your ships
came into these roads, having employed 1500 men
a day to put the island in the same state as it was
before I was encouraged to evacuate it.

WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,

Commander-in- Chief.
Admiral HARVEY.

They had to wait another fortnight, and then
the evacuation of the island was satisfactorily com-
pleted.

ISLE D'YEU, \^th December 1795.

SIR, — It is with the greatest satisfaction, I have
the honour to inform you, that the whole of the
troops under my command, the rearguard excepted,
are embarked on ships of war.

The first and second division are in the Bay of
Quiberon, the third will sail for that place to-night.
The rearguard, consisting of 800 men from the 78th
and goth Regiments under Brigadier - General
Graham with a detachment of artillery, will be ready
to embark whenever Admiral Harvey sends vessels
to take them off.

76 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

All the sick are on board the hospital ships,
which I have ordered to proceed direct to England.
I can assure you there will not be the most
trifling article left behind, except provisions I have
directed to be left for the inhabitants. — I have the
honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,

(Signed) WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE,
Commander-in- Chief.

Rt. Hon. H. DUNDAS.

This was the end of the expedition, and the only
thing one can say is that it might have been worse.
More horses might have been starved to death had
they been retained, and had the wishes of Monsieur
been acceded to, a large number of men might have
been lost in some futile expedition on the coast.

It was to have its effect upon poor Charette,
however.

When the force left the island for home,
Monsieur said he would land in France on a certain
day in December, I think, and Charette was there
to meet him with 15,000 men.

Monsieur, however, thought better of it, said he
would defer his landing till a more convenient
moment, but sent him a sword of honour.

Charette said, " Tell the prince he has signed
my death-warrant. I have now 15,000 men with me,
and in three days I shall not have 300."

He was right ; his men deserted in every

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 77

direction, and he was captured and executed by
the Republican Government on the 26th March
1796.

The British field officers of the force he com-
manded on the island presented my great-grand-
father with a sword, the hilt composed of gold and
enamel, with his arms upon it and a big diamond at
pommel. This is still in my brother's possession.

General Doyle returned home, and was made
full Colonel of the 5 3rd Shropshire Regiment of
Foot early in 1796. He found that the title of
Commander-in-Chief was not purely honorary, as he
received, I believe, ^3000 pay and allowances for
the expedition, which was not bad for a three
months' job. In November 1 796 he was made Com-
mander-in-Chief and Acting Governor of Ceylon,
and sailed for that place accompanied by his eldest
son, my grandfather. Hostilities with the Dutch
were still in progress when he arrived, and there
seems to have been a number of small columns
in the field. He himself must have remained at
Colombo, contenting himself with sending his son to
accompany one of the columns attached to some
Highlanders, I believe the 72nd or 74th. The climate
did not suit him, and the mountain centres of the
island being still in the possession of the King of
Kandy there was no possibility of a change ; he got
rapidly worse, and died at the age of thirty-nine, on

78 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

the 2nd January 1798, and is buried in the Dutch
graveyard at Colombo.

Welbore Ellis Doyle's will is dated on board
the Government lugger conveying him to embark
on the East Indiaman.

He leaves all he may die possessed of, not in
trust, but absolutely to his loving and constant
friend the Earl of Moira, trusting that he will do
the best he can for his wife and children.

He also trusts that H.R.H. the Prince of Wales
and H.R.H. the Duke of York, who have always
shown him the greatest favour and kindness, will
do their best to obtain for his wife a pension should
anything happen to him, as the widow of a General
officer who had been in every campaign during his
time, and who had had no time to look after his
own affairs.

In those days I imagine the difficulty of posts,
and there being no telegraphy, rendered the task
of an absentee looking after his own property
almost insuperable ; and in my great-grandfather's
case he suffered greatly from untrustworthy
agents.

One cannot help wondering what he wanted to
go blundering off to Ceylon for, having attained
the rank of Major-General at thirty-six, and having
seen much service and held important commands.
With the French War coming on he might have

MAJOR-GEN. WELBORE ELLIS DOYLE 79

had a great career, instead of terminating it at
Colombo at this early age.

My father thought that possibly it may have
been a good thing from one point of view, as his
early death only just saved my grandfather's life,
whose health had been ruined by the campaigns
of 1793 and 1794, which he had taken part in as
a child of eleven and twelve, where he was once,
if not twice, wounded. Had he lived my grand-
father would not have been allowed to retire on
half-pay to try and nurse his constitution back to
health, and he would probably have died in Ceylon
instead of his father.

Though not as well known as his elder brother
Sir John, Welbore Ellis Doyle, I think, saw as
much service and hard fighting, and was in some
cases in positions of greater responsibility — as, for
instance, his being Adjutant-General to Moira on
his perilous and successful march to assist the Duke
of York.

Had he lived, he would have left his mark on
the British army, and very possibly on that of the
French.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES
DOYLE, G.C.H., K.C.B., K.C.,

ist Class of Charles III., Officer of Legion of Honour,
Governor of Castle of Tor

SIR CHARLES DOYLE was the eldest son of William
Doyle, the wit, mentioned before in the sketch of
Sir John, and was consequently a nephew of Sir
John and Wei bore Ellis Doyle. William Doyle
married first Frances, daughter of Crofton Van-
deleur, Esq., of Kilrush, County Clare, and
secondly Cecilia, daughter of General Silvani, of
the Austrian army, and had two sons : Lieut.-
General Sir Charles, the subject of the present
sketch, and Captain Sir Bentinck, R.N.

Bentinck Doyle distinguished himself greatly
in the capture of the Psyche frigate in 1805, where
he was wounded in the chest and promoted Com-
mander. A curious story is told of him, that, when
a midshipman, he assisted Princess Caroline of
Brunswick on board the ship when she was coming
over to marry the Prince of Wales in 1795, and
that he commanded the frigate which conveyed
her remains back to Germany to be buried in 1821.

He seems to have been blest with a certain

So

LIEUT. -GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE, K.C.B., G.C.H.

L IEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 81

amount of impudence, as, on being presented to
George III., the King remarked, "You are not
like your brother, Sir Charles, as you are bald and
he has a lot of hair." " No, sir," was the reply ;
" you see your Majesty wants cool-headed fellows
to command your Majesty's frigates." As he was
not a soldier, I am not chronicling his services, so
he will not be mentioned again.

Charles Doyle was educated at Westminster.
He was made an Ensign in the iO5th Foot in
1783 on half-pay, and remained so until the 2nd
March 1793, when he purchased a Lieutenancy in
the 1 4th Foot, and served with them in Flanders.
In the first affair of Famars he came into notice,
and was thanked by General Abercromby on the
field. When the heights were stormed by the
1 4th Regiment, he accompanied his uncle, Welbore
Ellis Doyle, who led that regiment, as Brigade-
Major.

At the siege of Valenciennes he received a
contusion in the head from a shell when Acting
Orderly Officer to Count Walmoden ; and at the
attack of Lannoi was again wounded in the hand.

Here he again received the thanks of General
Abercromby, with whom he was serving as extra
A.D.C. ; and was sent by him to the Duke of York
to give an account of that action. He was also
with the Austrian Cavalry, Esterhazy's Hussars,

82 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

and Cavanagh Cuirassiers, at the affairs in front
of Tournay and of Menin. In 1794 he was
appointed to the gist Regiment, and then pur-
chased a Company in the io8th, a new levy.
With this regiment he went to Gibraltar, where
he was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor.

In 1795 he was appointed Captain and
Adjutant to the 87th Regiment, newly raised by
his uncle Sir John, and acted as Brigade- Major
to the 87th and loth Regiments in the expedition
against the Texel in 1796. He accompanied his
regiment to the attack on Porto Rico, and was
present at the landing and the affair of the Bridge
of St. Juan; was appointed A.D.C. to the Com-
mander-in-Chief.

In 1797, when at Barbadoes, a French privateer
having come into the roads and captured two
prizes, Captain Doyle took thirty men of Loeven-
stein's Regiment, who formed the general's guard,
and accompanied by Lieutenant Morris of the
1 4th Regiment and a young gentleman of the
island, whose name is unfortunately not preserved,
he embarked on board a common island sugar-
boat, recaptured the two prizes, and drove off the
privateer. Lieutenant Morris was rewarded by
being promoted Captain, and the young gentleman
was given an Ensigncy.

For this affair Captain Doyle received the

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 83

thanks of the Governor and Government of the
Islands.

In 1798 he was appointed Brigade-Major at
Gibraltar, and in 1799 was on the staff of Sir
Ralph Abercromby in an expedition for the attack
on Cadiz, and in 1800 was sent with the army
intended to act against Genoa.

In 1801 he was Brigade-Major in the Egyptian
Expedition, and led the left column of attack in
the battle of the I3th March, and was present at
the attack of the bridge at the bottom of the
Green Hills by Colonel Abercromby. In the
battle of March 2ist he was wounded in the arm,
but quitted hospital and rejoined his Brigade in
time for the attack on Rahmanie. In the latter
part of this day he rallied and acted with the
Turks, for which he received the thanks of the
Commander-in-Chief ; after which he accompanied
the detachment, which pushed across the desert
to Damanhur, in pursuit of a French column.
Here he was forced to go sick, and was sent
down the Nile by night to Rosetta, where he
was forced to remain for some time.

While there, recovering from the effects of
wounds, he had the good fortune to acquire the
most precise and important information as to the
strength of the defences at Cairo and its garrison.
He sent the person who gave him this informa-

84 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

tion to his uncle Sir John, then commanding the
4th Brigade, which led to the immediate counter-
operation (not crossing the Nile as was before
determined), the attack upon Giza, and the sur-
render of Cairo.

He was thanked by Lord Hutchinson, recom-
mended for a majority, and received the most
favourable reports from General Cradock, under
whose orders he had been on March I3th, and
from General Stuart, with whom he had served on
March 2ist.

In 1802 he was promoted Major in the 6ist
Regiment, appointed Brigade-Major at Horsley
Camp, and received the thanks of the Duke of
York for his plan of the defences of Horsley Bay.

In 1803 Major Doyle was given command of
the companies of Light Infantry of the Line, and
all the Volunteer Regiments under 300 strong
destined to defend the coast of the Northern
District ; and in 1 804 was moved to the camp at
Barham Downs to command the Light Infantry
Battalion at the Camp of Instruction under Sir
David Dundas.

He drew up a Manual of Light Infantry Drilj
whilst at that place, which he was ordered to take
to Sir John Moore by the Duke of York, and also
published various Manuals for the use of the Army,
Militia, and Volunteer Corps. In 1805 Major

LIEUT. -GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 85

Doyle was appointed Quartermaster-General at
Guernsey, and shortly afterwards purchased the
Lieut. -Colonelcy of the 8;th Regiment.

In 1808 he was removed from the command
of the 87th, leaving it in a high state of discipline,
and sent on a special mission to Spain.

In this country he appears to have been em-
ployed principally in the eastern part of that king-
dom, which, though overshadowed by what was
taking place in Portugal and the west, was never-
theless of a good deal of importance.

The following is some of the correspondence
on the subject : —

2, DOWNING STREET, July 2nd, 1808.

Letter from Lord Castlereagh, "acquainting
Lieut. -Colonel Doyle that he had been selected
to convey Spanish prisoners to Corunna, and after
informing them of the events which had taken
place in that country, to endeavour to rouse their
patriotism, and induce them to take up arms in
defence of their rightful Sovereign."

The number of prisoners was about 2800, and
they appear to have made great professions, but
after having been clothed and armed by the British
Government, they turned out to be entirely un-
trustworthy, as the following letter from Colonel
Doyle shows : —

86 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Off Plymouth Harbour^
July i$tk, 1808.

To Major- General Stewart, stating Spanish
prisoners had mutinied, and that the captain had
refused to put to sea. He had been obliged to
fix on six ringleaders, and send them on shore
to prison ; the remainder then became quiet.

Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Doyle to
Lord Castlereagh.

CORUNNA, /#/X 30//&, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to report that
Joseph Buonaparte arrived at Madrid three days
ago, but I am informed that he could not prevail
upon any of the inhabitants to illuminate or show
any demonstrations of joy at his arrival. — I have
the honour to be, my Lord, your obedient servant,
(Signed) CHARLES DOYLE,

Lieut.-Colonel.
The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

CORUNNA, August ist, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to report the
landing of Sir Arthur Wellesley and the troops
under his command at Figuera, in Portugal, on
July 26th. (Signed) CHAS. DOYLE.

This was a little previous, as Sir Arthur
Wellesley did not land at Figuera till August ist,
the day on which the letter was written.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 87

A letter from Colonel Doyle to the Supreme
Justice of the Kingdom of Gallicia : —

CORUNNA, August 6th, 1808.

GENTLEMEN, — I have this moment received the
commission of Brigadier-General in the Spanish
army, which you have done me the honour to
confer upon me.

I have again to repeat my thanks for this
distinguished mark of your favour, and I must
pray your forgiveness that I venture to request
that the pay and allowances, which accompany
the rank, may be added to the public subscrip-
tion destined to supply the wants of the Army.
— I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your
obedient servant,

(Signed) CHAS. DOYLE.

Letter to Lord Castlereagh.

MADRID, August loth, 1808.

MY LORD. — Yesterday morning the Duke of
Infantado and myself waited upon General Cuesta,
who was very unwell, at the town of Alva, and
begged the General to let us know what his plans
were.

Jealousy of General Blake and illness dictated
his answer.

He had no army.
He had no plans.

He intended to collect and organise 15,000

88 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

or 20,000 peasants, and when the other armies
were in motion he would move. This is unsatis-
factory to the last degree. — I am, &c.,

CHAS. DOYLE.

The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

A letter from Colonel Doyle to Lord Castle-
reagh, August 4th, stating that after the battle
of Baylen —

" I proposed to General Blake that he should
send officers to Biscay to stir up the people there,
and into the Asturias to beg that of their 15,000
men, 8000 might be pushed into Biscay to Bilbao,
to assist the people, who are all ready and only
waiting for arms and ammunition, for both of
which I wrote to Mr. Hunter of Gihon, and learnt
from him that he had sent a large supply of both,
and some money to Bilbao, where already 14,000
men had enrolled themselves.

" The remainder of the Asturians I begged might
instantly occupy the passes from Castile into the
Asturias and Biscay, that is to say, from Regnosa
in the direction of Bilbao."

These recommendations were attended to, but
on August 1 6th the French General Merlin broke
up the Biscayans with the loss of 1200 men.

A letter informing Lord Castlereagh of the
coronation of King Ferdinand : —

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 89

MADRID, August 2$th, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to state that I
have received letters from private persons, stating
that 8000 reinforcements had joined the French
army.

I have prevailed upon General Llamas to send
off a division of the Valencian army to-morrow
night towards Saragoza.

The coronation of King Ferdinand VII. took
place yesterday, and so magnificent and interesting
a sight I never witnessed. I take the liberty to
enclose your lordship a specimen of the coin dis-
tributed at the coronation. — I have the honour to be,
your obedient servant,

(Signed) CHAS. DOYLE.

The following is a copy of a letter, I think
written by a Mr. Cooke, from the Government to
Colonel Doyle, and contains a pretty severe wigging.
I wonder who reported the matter.

DOWNING STREET,

3 is/ August 1808.

SIR, — Lord Castlereagh has received letters
dated i6th July by which it appears, from a com-
munication made to you by Mr. Stewart, that you
had taken such measures as to prepare for the
reception of 16,000 British troops at Corunna.
H.M.'s Ministers cannot understand by what means
this should have got abroad.

90 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

It next appears that, instead of endeavouring to
ascertain the exact circumstances with regard to this
landing, you set off with the Duke of Infantado to
Madrid, and that you took measures to have him
appointed Regent, and to form a Council of Generals
for determining future operations. Upon these
points I am to express Lord Castlereagh's strong
disapprobation, inasmuch as you appear to have
exceeded your instructions, and to have entered
into political relations and connections, without any
authority, and by which H.M.'s Ministers may be
seriously embarrassed. Mr. Stewart is the only
person through whom political measures are to be
arranged.

The fullest credit is given to your military
activity and zeal, and to that sphere it is wished you
should in future confine yourself.

To this letter I can find no reply, so I imagine
he considered it unanswerable.

MADRID, September 8th, 1808.

MY LORD, — A confidential person, whom I em-
ployed at Salamanca to obtain intelligence, has
arrived, having passed within the last ten days
through the whole chain of French posts ; and the
day before yesterday left Borja, near Saragoza,
where there are 24,000 troops, of whom 2000 are
dragoons.

The result of a council of war, in consequence
of this intelligence, was this : —

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 91

That with every good intention to succour
Saragoza, the army of Castenos could not move
without money, and the armies of General Cuesta
and Llamas are in the same condition. I have the
honour to inform your lordship that in four hours I
procured and forwarded to the armies the follow-
ing sums : —

Castenos . . . 30,000 dollars.
Palofox . . . 20,000 ,,
Llamas . . . 20,000 ,,

The remainder of the money, 13 0,000 dollars, I hope
to receive the day after to-morrow, when I propose
to set off for Saragoza. I rejoice to hear of the
arrival of the Loire frigate at Cadiz with 500,000
dollars on board.

(Signed) CHAS. DOYLE.

The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

SARAGOZA, September nth, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to state that I
have this day minutely examined the army of
Arragon, including that of Valencia under command
of General Palafox.

The army calculated by the nation, and stated at
the meeting of general officers at 45,000 men, can
literally bring into the field only 18,700 infantry
and 450 effective dragoons, 7 field-pieces, and 4
howitzers. — I have the honour to be, &c.,

(Signed) CHAS. DOYLE.
The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

92 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

I believe the general rule was to divide the
Spanish armies by three, and then find that they
were generally exaggerated.

The following is the last of the money letters ;
the Government appear to have approved of his
policy with regard to financial matters, as the ex-
tract of a letter, dated October i5th, from Downing
Street shows.

SARAGOZA, September 2yd, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to forward to
your lordship the duplicate lists of bills, amounting
to ;£ 1 0,000, for which sum I drew on the Lords of
the Treasury in favour of the two Grinions of
Madrid at 90 days' sight.

None of those bills have been negotiated, and by
the advice of Mr. Stewart, I transfer the whole of
this money transaction to Mr. Duff of Cadiz, on
whom I now draw to the amount of 1 50,000 dollars.

I have, therefore, to pray your lordship to give
instructions that Mr. Duffs bill to the amount of
^10,000 sterling and 150,000 dollars may be duly
honoured. — I have the honour to be, &c.,

(Signed) CHARLES DOYLE.

Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

On September 28, 1808, Colonel Doyle was
made a Marchaux di Campo in the Spanish service
— something, I believe, between a Major and Lieute-
nant-General.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 93
The following are the letters on the subject : —

MADRID, September 2%th, 1808.

MY LORD, — I have the honour to inform your
lordship that I have received this day from the
Captain-General of the Kingdom of Arragon the
rank of Marchaux di Campo.

As H.R.H., the Commander-in-Chief approved
of my accepting the rank of Brigadier-General, I
have not hesitated to accept that of Marchaux di
Campo.

I cannot, however, avoid a feeling very near my
heart, which is, unless I shall have also acted to
merit the approbation of my own country, I shall
indeed have laboured in vain, and the object of my
life will not have been attained.

(Signed) CHARLES DOYLE.
The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

The following is the letter of thanks : —

MADRID, September zSt/t, 1808.

SIR, — The honour you have conferred upon me,
by appointing me to the rank of Marchaux di Campo,
claims my warmest thanks, and does in truth make
me proud and happy. You will pardon me in taking
the liberty to request that the emoluments arising
from the situation of Marchaux di Campo may be
disposed of towards the relief of the sufferers of
Arragon, in consequence of the repeated attacks of
the enemy.

94 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

I have the honour to be with the greatest respect
and esteem, CHARLES DOYLE,

Marchaux di Campo.

To the CAPTAIN-GENERAL

OF THE KINGDOM OF ARRAGON.

Extract of a letter from the Under Secretary of
State to Colonel Doyle.

DOWNING STREET,

October \yh, 1808.

Every credit is given to your zeal, and the
boldness of your decision when pecuniary resources
were wanting, and all the information you have
collected will be of great use to Sir John Moore, as
it has been of great use to the Government. Be
assured Lord Castlereagh has looked upon your
proceedings with a most favourable view.

A letter from Colonel Doyle to Lord Castlereagh,
dated October i, 1808, forwarding an intercepted
despatch to General Jourdan, announcing that
between October i6th and November i6th, twenty
regiments of infantry, fifteen regiments of cavalry,
and 700 dragoons were to pass through Bayonne
for Spain.

Towards the end of the year 1808, General
Doyle was ordered by the British Government
to quit Saragoza, and to repair to Tarragona, to
make preparations for the reception of a division

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 95

of British troops under Sir John Stewart from
Sicily.

Before he took his final leave of Arragon, he
threw into Saragoza a large quantity of provisions
and 11,000 stands of arms, and his endeavours to
save that town from capture caused him a severe
illness.

Upon his arrival at Tarragona, he found the
Mole Head almost entirely washed away, so was
forced to get artificers' tools and gunpowder from
Gibraltar to repair it. At that time the army of
Catalonia was in the neighbourhood of Barcelona,
in great want of cavalry ; and there were two
regiments at Reus, in the plains of Tarragona,
useless, as they had neither saddles, bridles, accoutre-
ments, nor boots. He completed these two regi-
ments on his own responsibility and pushed them
forward to the army ; and as a proof of his influence
over the people and the confidence they placed in
him, he ultimately obtained repayment of the money
from the rich inhabitants of Tarragona and Reus,
who had been deaf to all entreaties of their Captain-
General. He joined the army at the head of these
two regiments, and was present with them when
they were defeated at Grenolliers, when the Captain-
General reported in the following terms the great
obligations he felt to him for his conduct and
exertions : —

96 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

MOLING DEL KEY,

y>th December 1808.

I can never forget the brilliant example and
assistance that was afforded me by the English
General Charles Doyle, to whose firmness, efficiency,
and intrepidity I owe the rallying of my army at the
bridge of Molino del Rey, the saving of my heavy
artillery, and the preservation of the magazines and
powder mills at Mauresa.

The artillery and powder which had been saved
were sent to Lerida, and he was consequently able
to put both Lerida and Monson in a state of
defence.

After the dispersion of the Spanish army under
Riding at Molino del Rey, the Captain-General of
Catalonia fled the country to Minorca ; and the
members of the Supreme Junta also dispersed, and
anarchy and confusion reigned throughout the
principality ; the Juntas of Igualada and Lerida
were intriguing to form a new Supreme Junta, and
had published a manifesto to the Catalans declaring
the necessity of their assuming the chief Government.
At this crisis the French pushed forward a body of
troops to within a few miles of the pass of El
Bruck, in the hope of seizing upon Lerida in the
panic.

Doyle, however, heard that four members of the
old Supreme Junta had collected some stragglers

....
-

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 97

of the army at Igualada, and after forcing his way
through heavy snow, arrived there at one o'clock in
the morning, resolving to support their authority.

The whole place was in an uproar, and thousands
of stragglers and country people were crowding into
the town.

The three Juntas sat in different rooms in the
Town Hall, and after having assured the four
members of the Supreme Junta of his support, he
went to the room where the united Juntas sat, and
having requested silence, said : —

"Gentlemen, Lerida is the ultimate aim of
the enemy in order to obtain free intercourse with
Arragon, but this very town is their immediate
object for the sake of plunder ; they know well its
wealth and resources. I have,, at the risk of my
life, come here to endeavour to save this country ;
and I now announce to you that I have ordered my
A.D.C., Major Green, to assemble the troops forth-
with ; you must instantly provide them with a good
meal. It is now a quarter after one o'clock ; they
must be on the march to El Bruck by two. There
Major Green will make his stand, and form a point
round which to rally all the dispersed soldiers of
your several districts.

"To do this, gentlemen, and to send to El
Bruck within the next two hours sufficient pro-
visions for 6000 men, will require all your exertions,
all your energy. I know you to possess both, and

•r

me

98 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

I trust you will instantly return to your homes and
establish working committees into effect ; the or-
ganisation of the troops leave to me — I promise
their implicit obedience, and if you give me the
provisions in half-an-hour, I promise they shall be
on the march ten minutes afterwards. To your
posts."

A deputy of Lerida stood up and was beginning
a fine speech, commencing with a detailed account
of the late unfortunate occurrences, when Doyle
again rose and said : —

" Sir, this is no time for speech-making ; either
you break up and return to Lerida instantly, and
you, gentlemen of this town and district, set to
work and get me provisions, wood for firing, &c.,
at this very moment, or so help me God, I quit the
town and leave you to be plundered ; and I will
report to the Government to whom the fatal result
of my doing so is to be attributed.

"If any one wishes to propose a better plan,
let him do so a week hence ; but the immediate
application of my plan I do insist upon."

Another deputy then rose and said : —

"General, the debt of gratitude we owe to you
will make us obey your wishes as if they were
positive orders, but there is one thing we wish to
point out, and that is there is no Supreme Junta
in existence, and it was this fact that brought us
together."

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 99
Doyle then replied : —

"Let us lose no more time; I have arranged
everything with the four Precenters of the Supreme
Junta, who most wisely rallied here. All my re-
sources I have placed in their hands, and the
principality will know it to-morrow by circulars
that will be dispersed through it ; and now nothing
remains but your return to your homes, and let
every man put his shoulder to the wheel."

This speech was not so well received, but no
man had the courage actually to dissent, and before
half-past three the troops, headed by Major Green,
Doyle's A.D.C., were on the march to El Bruck.
The enemy, finding El Bruck occupied, at that
time retired.

The impression produced by this service was
great, as the following letter from the British
Ambassador shows: —

SEVILLE, 2ist February 1809.

The Catalan deputies are loud in your praise,
and have stated to the Government that they know
not whether to approve most of your caution and
good sense in the first step you took, or of your
ultimate energy and decision. The Government
also privately lauds you without limits, but it is
publicly dead silent upon the subject, and may
perhaps even be frightened at the recollection of
the narrow escape. However, the Minister at War

TOO A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

let out to me, that had it not been for your most
opportune intervention, and the high hand with
which you insisted upon the obedience of the petty
Juntas to the Supreme one, he had no doubt there
would have been a total dissolution of the army
and an end to all further organised resistance to
the enemy.

It is scarcely necessary to tell you how entirely
I approve of your conduct, and be assured I will
not fail to represent it in its proper colours to
H.M.'s Ministers at home. — I am, &c.,

(Signed) FRERE.

In this month, February 1809, it was dis-
covered that there was a vast quantity of ships'
timbers, masts, yards, and spars lying in the Bay
of San Carlos entirely at the mercy of the
enemy.

Doyle, with a detachment of troops, captured
the tower and battery of San Carlos, and covered
the removal of all the timber, most of which was
placed at the disposal of the Admiral and removed
to Mahun and Cartagena, and the remainder to
Tortosa and Tarragona.

In March Doyle built ovens at Peniscola for
the manufacture of bread and biscuits, and kept
Government feluccas at Tarragona and Peniscola,
to keep up communication : the advantage of this
establishment was sensibly felt upon three or four
occasions during the campaigns of 1809 and 1810.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 101

In April of this year Tortosa was very nearly
falling into the hands of the enemy ; the Governor,
General Martin, a traitor, who a few years after-
wards was Governor of Peniscola and betrayed
it to the enemy, had invited the French to push
forward a corps to seize the place, which was
entirely defenceless.

The inhabitants sent a deputation to Doyle,
who was ill with fever in the town of Cherta
upon the Ebro.

He allowed himself to be wrapped in blankets
and put into a boat, and at eleven o'clock at
night entered the town. He found that the re-
port was true, placed the General under arrest,
and took command.

He ordered the town to be illuminated, divided
it into districts, and so effectually organised the
inhabitants in companies of men and women, to
clear out ditches, fill up breaches, &c., that before
five in the morning the place was secure from a
coup de main, and the face threatened by the
enemy was defended by twelve companies of 100
men, in addition to a proportion of the troops.

The companies of women had ably assisted to
empty the ditch by passing down into it empty
aprons, &c., by one rank, and passing back by
another rank aprons, cloths, shawls, &c. filled with
earth, and they now insisted upon continuing in

102 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

companies to take food to the men at their posts,
so that no man should find it necessary to absent
himself. On seeing the preparations the enemy
retired, and the Marquis de Lazan two days
afterwards reached the town with his division.

Doyle was presented by the Governor on the
part of the city with a shield of honour, having
on one side the arms of the city, and round them
the words, " Tortosa etermenta agradecida a
Doyle " ; and later, the arms of Tortosa were by
order of the King quartered on his family arms.

In the last days of 1809, in the attack on the
Col de Balagur, Charles Doyle's horse was killed
under him by grape shot, and he was wounded
in the left knee. In the beginning of 1810, with
the assistance of Captain Duller of H.M.S.
Cambrian, he destroyed some of the enemy's
batteries along the coast, between Tarragona and
Barcelona, and he assisted in the defence of
Murviedro against Suchet ; later, on his own re-
sponsibility, he equipped the Duke of Infantada's
army with boots and other essentials, which
enabled him to keep the field.

His conduct upon these different occasions
was represented by the various authorities to
the Central Junta, and was reported in terms of
the highest approbation by the Spanish to the
British Government, and he received, together

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 103

with the order of knighthood of Charles III., a
very grateful letter from the Spanish Govern-
ment. Upon the arrival of Lord Wellesley as
ambassador, he was ordered to go to Cadiz to
meet him, and later received a very pleasant
letter of thanks for the information he had given
him.

By permission of General Bassecourt he under-
took the fortification of Murviedro, and rather
successfully, as Suchet was delayed before it for
over five weeks towards the end of the year 1810,
which gave time to the Valencians to organise
their troops.

The principal bastion at Murviedro had been
named by General Bassecourt " Doyle's Bastion,"
and on its being taken by the French the name
was not changed.

Doyle now once more proceeded to Catalonia,
and Tortosa being again threatened, the in-
habitants, again suspicious of their Governor,
implored him to come to their assistance. Hav-
ing to run the gauntlet of the besiegers before
getting into the city, just before reaching the
gate his horse was killed, and he broke his collar
bone.

He, however, got into the city, suppressed the
insurrection and the threatened murder of the
Governor, and organised the defences. For this

io4 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

service he received a letter from the British
Ambassador in the following terms : —

" I cannot sufficiently commend your exertions
in placing Tortosa in a respectable state of defence,
and you may be assured I will do you ample
justice in my despatches to England.

"(Signed) WELLESLEY."

Charles Doyle was now preparing to return
to Tarragona, but was called to Peniscola by a
report that the French Colonel Plique, an active
partisan of Suchet, was a prisoner there, and that
the Governor had determined to shoot him as a
spy. On his arrival he found the report to be
correct, and that Colonel Plique was to be shot
the following morning " because he had entered
the garrison without being blindfolded, and having
no real object but to reconnoitre the defences."

Doyle then inquired of the Governor what
punishment he had awarded to the Spanish officer
commanding at the outwork, the Captain com-
manding the gate of the town, and the Field
Officer of the day, who replied that he had not
yet thought on the subject, and that he did not
think it necessary to punish them. Doyle then
expressed his determination to prevent the execu-
tion, unless it was preceded by the execution of
the three ignorant and traitorous Spanish officers.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 105

Upon this the Governor gave a sulky assent to
the Colonel being liberated, and he was sent back
to Suchet that afternoon.

On another occasion at Lerida some time in
1810, he saved the lives of three French officers
and over fifty soldiers, who were about to be
massacred by the inhabitants, by speaking to the
populace from the balcony of his house till he had
got the prisoners into the courtyard, when he closed
the gates and the people were baffled.

After leaving Peniscola he organised a force for
the attack of Bagur, Bisbal, and Palamos.

He carried the tower and battery of Bagur,
though with some loss ; and reports in the highest
terms of Captain Fane, Lieutenant Baynton, Dr.
Duke and Mr. Walter (purser) of the Cambrian^ and
of Mr. Galway, a gentleman who volunteered his
services at Tarragona, and of Lieutenant Robinson
and Lawrie of the marines.

Lawrie led the attack in the most gallant
manner. A special medal was struck for this
exploit, and given to Doyle and the officers under
him.

Four days after, Bisbal and Palamos were taken
by assault, and the garrison, one general, 158
officers, and 1400 men were sent to Tarragona.

Towards the end of 1810 Lord Wellington
offered Doyle the command of a corps of German

io6 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

deserters 4000 strong, with the rank of Colonel, but
the Government refused to have any more foreign
regiments, and the project fell through.

In the beginning of 1811, Marshal Suchet was
besieging Tarragona, and hoped to take the great
outwork Olivo which was unfinished. Doyle com-
manded a sortie, which put off the attack for two
days, when the works were finished and the garrison
supplied with water and ammunition ; the attack
on it was then very easily repulsed.

At the siege of Tarragona Doyle received a
musket shot through the right shoulder.

On the nth September 1811 he was promoted
a Lieutenant-General in the Spanish service, and
was given a cross of distinction for Tarragona, and
also one for five general actions in Catalonia.

In the month of July 1811 Lord Wellington
appointed Doyle to the command of a Spanish army
to be raised during the siege of Cadiz, and to be
head of a military establishment of instruction with
headquarters at the Island of Leon.

By the beginning of 1812 he had formed seven'
complete regiments : Jaen, Africa, Malaga, Espana,
Tiradores de Doyle, Zamora, and filled up the
Royal Guards and others to the number of 9000
men.

Five of these regiments, the Tiradores de Doyle
and four others, very much distinguished themselves

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 107

at the Battle of Arepolis, and received the approba-
tion of Wellington.

At the beginning of 1814 he returned to England,
and as a mark of approval was at once received by
the Prince Regent and received the honour of
knighthood.

Last year I was curious to know if any of the
Spanish regiments raised by Doyle remained, and
I received the following reply from the Spanish

Embassy : —

i GROSVENOR GARDENS,

January 17 th, 1910.

DEAR COLONEL DOYLE, — In answer to your
inquiry, I beg to inform you that the regiments
Africa, Zamora, and Espana are still in existence,
but the three regiments, Jaen, Malaga, and Tira-
dores de Doyle have been suppressed. — Believe
me, yours very truly,

E. Y. PENA,
For the Embassy.

In 1815 Charles Doyle was given the Legion of
Honour by Louis XVIIL, a K.C.B. in 1819, and was
Colonel of the loth Veteran Battalion.

In 1825 he commanded the south-western dis-
trict of Ireland in very troublous times, and on
giving up command was given the freedom of the
city of Cork in a silver box, and the county and
town of Limerick presented him with a service of
plate, together with the freedom of the city.

io8 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

In 1829 he was president of various committees
at the War Office, but not actively employed again.

In 1837 he was promoted Lieutenant-General
in the English service, and given the Grand Cross
of Hanover.

During his forty-seven years' service —

He was present at eleven general actions, three
sieges, and twenty-one actions of minor import.

Was thanked on the field of battle five times by
British commanders (Famars, Lannoi, Porto Rico,
13th March 1801, and Rahmanie), and eight times
by Spanish commanders-in-chief.

Besides the Crescent, the Bath, Charles III.,
Legion of Honour, and Grand Cross of Hanover,
he had five other crosses of distinction — distin-
guished valour, siege of Tarragona, six general
actions, saving of Tortosa, assault of Bagur.

He was five times wounded, and had three
horses killed under him.

Sir Frederick Maurice in his life of Sir John
Moore, I think, rather mixing him up with his young
Coldstream cousin, Charles Joseph, commonly known
as Carlo Doyle, who at the age of twenty-two was
employed with the Spanish guerillas, calls him a
mountebank.

I daresay he may be quite right, though I don't
quite know what he means ; but, I think, any one
who reads his record of service will agree that he

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 109

was a soldier, and led a soldier's life. In these days
it is rather the fashion to shove on gentlemen who
shine in the office rather than in the field, but, I
think, that anyhow the French prisoners at Lerida
and Colonel Plique at Peniscola were glad that on
those occasions the Spaniards had the soldier and
not the clerk to deal with.

Sir Charles Doyle married Sophia, danghter of
Sir John Coghill, Bart., and had three sons and a
daughter : —

General Sir Hastings, who was some time
A. A.G. of the 3rd Division in the Crimea, and who
afterwards commanded at Nova Scotia, Ports-
mouth.

Percy William, C.B., a well-known diplomat,
some time Minister in Mexico.

Colonel the Right Hon. John (North), who
married Susan, Baroness North, daughter and
co-heiress with Lady Bute of the third Earl of
Guildford, and took the name of North. He re-
presented one of the divisions of Oxfordshire for
over thirty years, being never defeated. He had
one son, the present Lord North.

Sylvia, died unmarried.

Sir Charles Doyle died in 1842.

Since writing the preceding, Fortescue's His-
tory of the British Army, vol. vi., has appeared,
in which he states that in 1808-9 "Charles Doyle

no A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

was the laughing-stock of the British and Spanish
armies."

I am bound to say I think this rather a hard
description ; he did not arrive in Spain till July 1808,
and during the autumn of that year he received the
appointment first of Brigadier-General and then of
Marchaux di Campo, in the Spanish service ; there
is the report of the Captain-General of Catalonia
dated 3Oth December 1908, and the letter of Frere
dated February 21, 1809, from which it appears
that he was giving general satisfaction to all parties.
In order to see if I could find out anything more of
the events of the years 1808-9, I have lately been
to Wroxton Abbey, Lord North's house, to examine
papers there. There was a great mass of documents,
a large number written in Spanish, which were not
of much good to me, but I came upon one letter
dealing with the year I required, a spontaneous
tribute to him from Stuart, who was our diplomatic
agent in Spain in 1 808 : —

PARIS, \ith September 1816.

MY DEAR GENERAL,. — As I have repeatedly ex-
pressed in conversation the sense of the advantage
I derived from your assistance, in the commence-
ment of the struggle in Spain, I feel great pleasure
in availing myself of the first moment after your
return to England to offer a spontaneous testimony
of your personal exertions in Gallicia, Arragon, and

LIEUT. -GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE in

Castile, and your success in organising the resistance
to the enemy during the period I was accredited to
the Provincial and Central Governments of that
country in the years 1808-9. — Believe me, my dear
General, yours faithfully,

(Signed) STUART.

Lieut.-General Sir C. W. DOYLE.

I don't know what evidence Mr. Fortescue has
to go on. I feel sure that he would not make such a
statement without being perfectly convinced of the
truth of it himself, but I think I have produced a
certain amount of evidence on the other side to show
that Charles Doyle was doing good work, with the
approval of his superiors, during the years re-
ferred to.

Another incident I came upon at Wroxton is, I
think, worthy of notice, though not dealing with
1808-9.

On Charles Doyle taking command of the
Spanish army in the Island of Leon in 1811, he
found a clique of officers, headed by the Colonel
commanding his artillery, and the Brigadier-
General commanding his cavalry, bitterly opposed
to him.

He was in the habit of giving the recruits practi-
cal experience of skirmishing and outposts, by land-
ing them on the mainland, and exercising them
against the enemy, being certain, if the French

ii2 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

pressed him too hard, of being able to retire and
cross to Leon, being covered by the fire of his guns
on that island.

On one occasion, expecting the support of his
artillery, it was not forthcoming, and had it not
been for the extreme gallantry of his aide-de-camp,
Baron Gruezno, he would have been captured.

He found on getting back to the island that the
Colonel commanding the artillery had retired to
supper, having given orders that no guns were to
be discharged. This officer he was forced to have
placed on half-pay, upon which he received a most
insulting letter from the Brigadier-General com-
manding his cavalry.

Charles Doyle sent the Brigadier-General a
letter by a messenger, saying that he overlooked
the insubordination, but that the insults were so
gross that he demanded instant satisfaction. That
the messenger would at once conduct him to a spot
where he, Charles Doyle, was to be found, and that
the Brigadier-General might have choice of weapons.

The Brigadier-General sent a letter of apology,
but which was not considered satisfactory.

He then said Charles Doyle might dictate the
apology.

This was done, and the Brigadier-General then
read out the original insulting letter and the apology
to the whole of the assembled officers of the garrison.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES DOYLE 113

After this there was no more opposition ; the
cavalry Brigadier shortly after retired on half-pay,
and the whole of the officers supported their Com-
mander in a most whole-hearted manner.

In concluding this article, I think I have said
enough to show that Charles Doyle extricated
himself from various situations of danger and
difficulty, if not in the best, under the circumstances
in a highly successful way, and in a manner not
unbecoming the character of an English gentleman.

He appears to have occupied his spare time in
Spain by writing plays ; I found several complete
ones mixed up with the papers dealing with the
campaign.

ii

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FRANCIS
HASTINGS DOYLE, BART.

FRANCIS DOYLE was the eldest son of General
Welbore Ellis Doyle, and nephew of Sir John.

He was born in 1783, and had an eventful
life up to about his twentieth year ; but after that,
from the hardships and privations he had experi-
enced as a child, was forced from the state of his
health to retire from active military life, and though
he continued on half-pay, his career followed along
the lines of civil employment.

His war service is very difficult to follow, as
being always on half-pay, and apparently attached
to somebody's Staff, one has no regimental records
to guide one.

I imagine almost from his cradle he was on the
half-pay of the io5th Foot, the late Volunteers of
Ireland of the American War.

He is shown in this capacity till the 3ist May
1794, when he was appointed Ensign in Captain
Henry Tufton's Independent Company of Foot.

His father was not, however, a man to allow
childhood to stand in the way of active service
if there was anything going on ; accordingly he

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART.

DIED 1839, AGF.H 56

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 115

accompanied his father, then Colonel of the i4th
Foot, to Flanders in 1793, and was present at
the action of Famars at the mature age of a little
over ten.

After this he returned to his mother in England
for a bit, who must have been glad to have him
back ; but again accompanied his father, then a
Brigadier-General and Adjutant-General to Moira's
force, when they landed at Ostend in 1794.

On the 2ist June 1794 he was promoted Lieu-
tenant and transferred to the io8th Foot. He was
present at the action of Alost, all through the
operations which led to Moira's junction with the
Duke of York in July 1794. He was also present
at the action of Malines, or Mechlin, on the I2th
July 1794, when the French were repulsed; and
on the 1 6th July was wounded in the leg in Moira's
rearguard action to cover the retirement of the
Duke of York in Antwerp.

On the ist November 1794 he was promoted
Captain in the io8th Foot, at the age of eleven.

It is rather curious to think that my great-
grandfather should have joined the Army at twelve,
and that my grandfather should have been a Cap-
tain at eleven. He underwent the dreadful hard-
ships of the winter of 1794, when the Rhine was
solidly frozen over, and in the spring of 1795 re-
turned to England, and I suppose acted as sort

n6 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

of A.D.C. to his father, who then commanded at
Southampton.

The details I have had to take on trust from
the account given me by my father, but I have
worked them out with the official account, and
the dates agree, and I believe them to be correct.

After one of the actions, in 1794, it is stated
that my grandfather, overcome by fatigue, went to
sleep with his head pillowed on the chest of some
German Prince, whose name I cannot remember,
to the horror and indignation of the attendants,
but that his royal or serene Highness refused to
have him removed.

In 1795 the io8th was disbanded, and he was
soon afterwards placed on the half-pay of that
regiment.

Whether he accompanied his father to the Isle
d'Yeu in 1795 I don't know. There is no mention
of him in letters from that place, but as he was with
him at Southampton, the place from which the ex-
pedition started, it is quite possible that he did so.

If he did, the hardships he would have had
to undergo there, where there was next to nothing
to eat, and where Fortescue states there was not
even a candle among the whole force, must have
been a further strain on his constitution.

I fancy during most of 1796 he stopped quiet,
and in the winter of that year he was ill with

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 117

measles. His father, however, had been ordered
to take command of the troops in Ceylon, and to
administer the government of that island ; such
little trifles as measles did not trouble him in the
least, and I suppose they did not bother much
about quarantine regulations. My grandfather
was accordingly fetched out of bed and carried
to the ship, starting, I think, in November, and
arriving at Ceylon early in 1797.

There were desultory expeditions going on
against the Dutch and natives. Welbore Ellis
Doyle himself remained at Colombo, I believe, but
the opportunity of bringing his son forward was
too good to miss, and he attached him to a High-
land regiment, whether the 7 2nd or 74th I am not
quite clear. With this corps he saw whatever
fighting there was going on.

On the 2nd January 1798 Welbore Ellis Doyle
died at the age of thirty-nine, and I cannot do
better than quote my father on the subject, as
follows : —

" My grandfather, however able in many direc-
tions, did not trouble himself much about the laws
of nature.

" By his exertions my father was made a Cap-
tain at eleven, and carried off to the Netherlands
for the campaigns of 1793-94, campaigns during
which the Rhine was solidly frozen over ; he was

n8 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

then swept off to active service in India before his
fourteenth birthday.

" The result of all this was that my father, no
doubt a very strong man originally, died in his
fifty-seventh year, as Dr. Chambers told me,
simply of old age.

" Now, had my grandfather lived on he would
have continued to forget that his son was made
of flesh and blood, and not of steel wire ; he would
have discouraged any attempt of his to retire from
the Army as a last chance of reacquiring something
like health and strength, and would have killed him
by over-pressure whilst he was yet, as years go,
in the beginning of youth. As it was, he did not
extinguish my father, but only crippled and maimed
a life just saved by his own death, a death which,
from that point of view, can hardly be looked upon
as premature."

After the death of my great-grandfather in
Ceylon, another General officer , whose name need
not be given, took charge of the son of his old
friend with enthusiastic goodwill, but turned out
to be a capricious, unstable sort of man, and treated
my grandfather so badly under the influence of an
ill-conditioned Frenchwoman, that though scarcely
sixteen, he turned upon him with irrevocable deter-
mination and threw up his appointment.

From what my father told me, it appeared that
the young fellow had a feeling of honour towards

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 119

the man whose bread he was eating, and rather
played the part of Joseph towards the lady in
question. However that may be, the quarrel was
not made up.

The Highland regiment to whom he had been
attached took the boy's part, and a company of
theirs happening to be vacant, they placed it under
his command at once, in order to facilitate his return,
my father says, to Calcutta, which they were under
orders for.

This, I think, is a mistake, and that it was
Madras that they moved to.

I may incidentally mention that this death of
my great-grandfather in Ceylon, when his son was
too young to know or care anything of his own
private affairs, cost the family rather dear.

Welbore Ellis Doyle held a perpetual lease of
some land in the immediate vicinity of Dublin
under one of those curious Irish tenures of paying
a fine to the head landlord every life.

When he died in 1798, the lawyer ought to
have paid this fine, but this was not done ; my
grandfather neither knew nor cared anything about
it, and the whole thing lapsed to the head landlord.
The lawyer is supposed to have received compensa-
tion for his neglect, to say the least of it. Anyhow «
the land was built over and became a suburb
of Dublin, and when I inquired about it twenty

120 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

years ago, it was supposed to be worth .£60,000
a year.

I do not, however, count it as that amount of
income lost, as I feel sure, from my knowledge
of the family, that directly it had become worth
,£20,000 or £30,000 it would have been sold for
the sake of hard cash.

My grandfather, Francis Doyle, accompanied
the Highland regiment to Madras, and served
in some of the operations of 1798 ; where he be-
came acquainted with, and received the kindly
notice of, Colonel Arthur Wellesley. I do not,
however, think that he was at the taking of Serin-
gapatam.

As to what happened I can form no idea, as he
next appears in some way attached to the Staff of
Charles Stuart in Sicily, in 1799.

My grandfather must have remained some time
in Sicily, and appears to have been taken notice of
by Nelson, a fact which considerably influenced his
subsequent career.

One story I got from my father of that time in
Sicily is rather interesting.

My grandfather attended a party at the Court
at Messina or at Palermo, and sat immediately
behind Nelson, who was in an armchair. Lady
Hamilton recited, and Nelson's admiration so far
carried him away, that he kept snapping the fingers

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 121

of his one hand and exclaiming, " Mrs. Siddons be
d— d ! Mrs. Siddons be d— d ! "

Some time in 1800, my grandfather returned to
England, and was taken by Nelson to act as a
marine on board his ship, in the Copenhagen
expedition.

Just before the engagement began, Nelson
clapped him on the shoulder and said, " Come
boy, come along with me," and took him down
to the Council of War ; and there as a lad of
nineteen, he took his seat among the bigwigs.
What struck him most in the action was the blowing
up of the Dannebrog. According to my father —

"He used to tell how the doomed vessel, one
mass of flame, drifted through the hostile fleets,
her guns sullenly discharging themselves as she
passed ; then in an instant a dense column of black
smoke, rushing up the sky to an unbelievable height,
diffused itself into a haze of fire, through which
fragments of spars and timbers were seen dimly
floating.

" These fell at intervals into the sea, and
when the sound ceased, there was an end of the
Dannebrog''

Directly the fighting ceased, Nelson sent my
grandfather with despatches to Berlin to impress
upon the Prussians the importance of the victory.

It was a difficult position for a boy of his age,

122 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

to confront Ministers and Ambassadors charged to
the brim with secret or avowed hostility to England,
but his antagonists were not aware that behind
that youthful aspect lay hidden the experience of
a traveller who had already seen "the cities and
manners of many men," and of a soldier who might
almost be called a veteran.

Lady Charlotte Proby, then at Berlin with her
father, our Ambassador to the King of Prussia,
told my father on more than one occasion, how
great a sensation was produced at the royal table,
when this boy silenced the most pertinacious of his
questioning enemies, a man who* kept bothering
him, as to what would have happened, if the Danes
had done this, that, or the other, by replying at
once, " Aliens, Monseigneur, nous aurions fait, sans
combattre, ce que nous avons combattue pour
faire " ; and proceeded to explain with great dis-
tinctness how that result must have followed.

He was dismissed with despatches for England,
but the ordinary King's messenger with a duplicate
despatch proceeded by another vessel, and my
grandfather's agony of mind when his ship grounded
in the Elbe was great, fearing that he would be
behindhand.

However, they both arrived almost at the same
time. The King's messenger got into one post-
chaise and my grandfather chartered another. Going

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 123

up to the postboys, he said, " Postboys, what you
please, but you must beat that chaise into
London."

They galloped to London at the rate of 1 7 miles
an hour, and won the race by about two hours.
After this, I think, he remained on half-pay for a
bit, but in 1802 returned to Naples, and joined his
uncle, Sir John, who had gone there to recoup his
health, after the hardship of the Egyptian campaign ;
and he accompanied him on his ride with despatches
for London, through the country infested with
bandits in the Neapolitan kingdom.

In January 1803, my grandfather was in Paris.
His mother had, after the death of my great-grand-
father in 1798, married Prince Joseph de Monaco,
late in 1801.

They had an hotel in Paris, and he probably
took advantage of the Peace of Amiens to pay her
a visit.1

The present Comte de Chabillan, a few years
ago, sent my brother a picture of my great-grand-
mother painted at that time. She was supposed to
be a great beauty, but I must confess that I was

1 Prince Joseph had no children by her, but had had two
daughters by his first wife, who was a daughter of the Due de
Choiseul. These ladies married Frenchmen, and my grandfather and
his brother Carlo, though not really connected, were on terms of
intimacy and quasi-relationship with De la Tour du Pins, de Louvois's,
and de Chabillans.

124 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

rather disappointed in her appearance ; possibly
she had lost her looks a little.

The Comte de Chabillan married a celebrated
French beauty, a Mdlle. de Mirepoix, to whose
family a curious legend is attached. They are
supposed to be descended from a brother of the
Virgin Mary ; and in their possession is a picture
of one of the family, kneeling before the Virgin,
who is raising her hand, with a scroll coming out of
her mouth on which is written " Relevez vous, mon
cousin."

To return to my grandfather : he was presented
to Napoleon, and the following letter describing the
scene is interesting, as it is believed to be the only
levee and reception held by him as First Consul.
The letter was written to Lady Milner, his future
mother-in-law.

PARIS, %th January (?i8o3).

MY DEAR LADY MILNER, — I have some little
grievances to complain of, but I shall be silent and
rest for redress upon the influence of conscience,
which though sometimes tardy impels us at last to
justice. I have delayed writing to you for many
reasons. I have not met withprivate opportunities,
and I did not wish to expose my correspondence
with you (however trifling my letters might be) to
the inspection of a French commissary, an incon-
venience to which you are subjected in writing by
the post — what a gratifying situation for a curious

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 125

man ! But I had another reason. I wished to be
able to give you a description of the most prominent
features in the society of this extraordinary place ;
my object was therefore to see everything — my
determination to say nothing until I had accom-
plished my object ; I was contented to hazard for a
time the appearance of neglect that I might en-
deavour to collect everything which should afford
you satisfaction. I have now looked at everything
which convulsion has thrown to the surface, and I
would wish to give you the whole picture in the
same light in which I received it. But it is of all
things perhaps the most difficult to an ordinary mind
to give a faithful and distinct description of a com-
plicated object ; so many different things crowd at
once upon him, each striving for a preference, that
the unhappy man knows not which to fix on, till
wearied with their obtrusive emulation, in a last
effort he breaks the slender bonds that separate
them, and out rushes the chaos of the mind. Such
is my state at this moment. I wish to obey the com-
mands you gave me and to perform my promise,
but I know not where to begin. I had no oppor-
tunity when I was here last year of being presented
to Bonaparte, so that this ceremony was new to me.
After the review was over last Wednesday all those
who were to be introduced assembled in a lower
apartment of the " Tuilleries," called the Salon des
Ambassadeurs. I suppose there were about twenty-
five English and as many more foreigners of different
nations ; we were kept waiting near an hour with a
view, I really believe, of giving time for the display

126 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

of consular magnificence, for during the delay we
were waited upon by livery servants and the pages
of the palace with every kind of refreshment — cho-
colate, malaga, malmsey, cakes, ice, &c. When this
was over notice was sent down that the Consul was
ready to receive us ; we then went to the top of a
great staircase, and were shown through a suite of
rooms into a most elegant apartment where we
formed a regular circle, the different Ambassadors
in the front of their respective bodies, the Pope's
Legate on the right, the Imperial Ambassador next
to him, then ours, &c. When this was complete
folding doors were thrown open, and Bonaparte
appeared dressed in purple and gold, the consular
uniform, silk stockings, buckles, and a small dress
sword. He spoke to the Cardinal first, then in
succession to the other Ministers, who introduced
their nation. When he came to Whitworth he said
some civil things : asked after the Duchess, and
hoped that the English amused themselves in Paris.
We were then introduced in turn ; he spoke to few
of us, but said some general civil things : he asked
Charles Stewart the height of our dragoons, Lord
Besborough how many children he had. There was
" Col. Dillon " amongst us, who in fact is a French-
man. When Lord W. said " Col. Dillon," Bona-
parte instantly asked, " Est il Anglois ? " Lord W.
said " Yes." This quickness struck me, but he made
no observation in my hearing worthy of repeating.
In this way he went round the circle and played his
part admirably well. His manner is uncommonly
good, and a smile which he wears gives a pleasing

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 127

expression to his face. When he had gone round
the circle he placed himself between the other two
Consuls who stood there like two posts, made us
three bows and retired. Such was the presentation.
There was a dinner afterwards to which those were
invited who had been presented the preceding
month. Lord Whit worth was guilty of a little offence ;
he came after they had all sat down to dinner, which
wounded the punctuality of Bonaparte : he very
civilly, however, reserved the place for the Duchess
next to himself. Somebody told me yesterday that
the Duke of Gordon made the Consul a speech of
five minutes. The dinner was magnificent, but they
had only forty minutes allowed, half of which would
be taken up in looking about one. I don't under-
stand why he should be so hasty to rise from dinner ;
it is not from the affectation of business as some
have said, because there is an assembly and cards
after it at which he remains. It is interesting to
see a man who has raised himself by prudence,
sagacity and courage from obscurity to pomp and
power, from insignificance to the highest situation
among men ; it is curious to examine the progress
of this greatness, to behold this man low in stature,
weak in body, sickly in constitution, making use of
thousands but as instruments of his ambition, and
to see them bowing with humility before the power
of an energetic mind : to see him composing the
differences of the world, and giving the impulse of
his will to forty millions of his fellow-creatures, and
it cannot fail to strike the most insensible with
wonder — a Markoff, a Duchesini, a Cobentzel

128 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

decorated with stars and ribbons in a race of bows,
prostrating their country and themselves at the feet
of a man who ten years ago they would have hardly
deigned to answer. It was interesting to see. I
was pleased with Lord Whitworth, erect and
dignified ; he was respectful enough without ever
forgetting that he represented England.

There is a great revolution in the manners of
the French since last year ; the new order was then
proud of distinguishing itself from the ancient
regime by rudeness and dirt : they now, however,
affect the utmost splendour of dress and politeness
of manner. We have been twice at the assemblies
given every Thursday by one or other of the minor
Consuls, nothing can be more brilliant, everybody
goes full dressed in bags and swords ; in fact it is
the policy of the Government to draw the widest
distinction between the different orders and to
create a new aristocracy, and they think wisely
that this obligation to dress is the first step towards
it — in fact at this moment there is an aristocracy ;
the Senators are for life ; their sons will remember
that their fathers were Senators : this makes family
and so on, but besides that he is establishing it
more directly. There is a law now about to be
passed giving to thirty of the Senators to be
nominated by him, an estate in land for life to
the amount of 25,000 francs, to be assigned out
of the confiscated lands in each department. One
of the principal arguments used by the members of
Government in proposing it, was the greater security
which the country would have for the patriotism of

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 129

the guardians of the laws, by giving them a per-
manent interest in the State. What is this but the
usual argument for the necessity of an aristocracy ?
But there is another reason which has influenced
him in proposing this to the Senate ; it is confidently
stated that he means to take the title of Emperor
of the Gauls and of Italy, and thus by the power of
bribery which this law would give him he means
to corrupt the little portion of the Senate that is
not devoted to his will. Such is the opinion. The
title of Emperor is certainly more popular than
King, and he may endeavour to reduce it to its
original signification, but still it seems beneath him
to look upon a vain title when he already grasps
all the power he can possess ; but it is the nature of
ambition to look higher and higher and to be ever
restless, to look at the clouds when the earth is
under foot.

The society in Paris is principally indebted to the
English and Russians ; they give the best parties :
very few of the French that we hear of give any.
Madame R^camier gave a ball a few days after we
arrived, and I have not heard of anything since.
She gave a very large party a few days before we
got here, which I should have been very glad tp
have seen from the circumstances attending it.
After she had received a few of her company she
complained of a little indisposition, made some
excuse and went to bed ; in a few minutes the
bedroom door was thrown open, and to the surprise
of everybody Madame R^camier was discovered in
the lightest undress lying on the most elegant bed,

rv P.

130 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

in all the grace and negligence of beauty. The
crowd of men and women anxious to see her in
this situation in an instant filled the bedroom ; those
that were shut out got upon chairs to look over the
heads of the others, and Mr. R6camier, it is added,
busied himself in turning up the covers of the chairs
that they might not spoil the satin furniture. She
continued the whole evening in this way receiving
her company ; every one agreed that she looked
most beautiful in bed. What may not beauty do ?
and in France where it was always next to the
King. Lady Elizabeth Monk gives good parties,
and is liked very much by the French ; Lady
Coningham is greatly admired by them. Lord
Cholmondely lives in great style; he gives great
dinners, and is waited upon by servants in full
dress coats, bags, &c., which he says the Consul
is pleased at. I dined there last Sunday ; his dress
coat, which he made up for the event, is magnificence
itself. The Duchess of G. is playing a curious
part — doing and saying everything that is uncivil to
the English. My friend dined the other day at
Lord Coningham's where she was and a party of
French. She took occasion to say that the English
were so stupid in comparison of the French, she
never should be able to suffer them when she
returned ; that in everything the French excelled
us — mere dolls, said she. ( Lady Coningham took up
the defence of the poor English.) She is running
after young Beauharnais everywhere, and paying
him the most fulsome flattery ; when he moves his
lips to speak she applauds what he is going to

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 131

say, and her object it is supposed is to marry Lady
Georgiana to him. He seems a plain sensible young
man, and from his looks not likely to be taken in,
but few men can resist the perseverance of flattery
from an artful and experienced woman, and if that
is her object, I should not be surprised in her
success. She has made herself very unpopular
with the English, and the French in general can't
like her, for she hardly speaks their language. I
have now given you, my dear Lady Milner, a little
description of the society here. There is great
splendour among the nouveaux riches, in the dress,
in the furniture of the houses, and in everything,
but those that were great are low and humble, poor
and despised. France at present is an interesting
but a melancholy picture to behold ; you see millions
crouching in slavery — one man everything, the
others nothing but his servants. Is this the fruit
of a revolution brought about for the sake of
liberty ? But fortunately they seem to be a people
made for obedience, and tyranny is therefore less
irksome to them ; they laugh, joke, sing, attend the
theatres regularly, but show no signs of political
life. I believe, however, they are more afraid of
Bonaparte and of stirring in opposition to his will,
than pleased with him personally or satisfied with
his government ; but you may rely upon it he is too
firmly seated in power to be easily shaken. I hear
that many officers are discontented with him, particu-
larly those who served under Moreau, but there is
no danger from this quarter now ; the troops are so
dispersed over the country that sufficient to strike

132 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

a sudden blow could not be easily collected, nor
has any General the opportunity now of forming a
party amongst them, and though there are many
jealous of Bonaparte, yet they are jealous of one
another too. So that this division is another
security. Generals will not be loud just now either
in their expressions of dissatisfaction, for he has a
grave ready open for them — St. Domingo, where
out of 20,000 men that were sent out only 5000,
I have been assured, are now existing ; almost all
the Generals have died. The body of Leclere,
Bonaparte's brother-in-law, the Consul-in-Chief,
arrived yesterday to be interred in France ; in short
the mortality there has even exceeded what used to
excite our mournful surprise, and it is a way that
would not escape him of getting easily rid of
clamorous and disaffected officers — in short he is
omnipotent, as far as the power of man can reach
over man. Here I draw a line ; I must not go
beyond this. I have already extended this letter
too far — you must excuse it. I am really almost
ashamed to send it, but I have not time, as Ellery
goes away this evening, to write it over again,
so that scratched and blotted as it is, must go.
Receive it, with the assurance of my constant re-
membrance of your many kindnesses to me.

F. H. DOYLE.1

On his return to England my grandfather was
made D.A.A.G. in Guernsey, and in May 1804

1 From the original in possession of Cicely, Countess of
Cranbrook.

LADY MILNER
From a picture by G. Romney

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 133

became engaged to be married to Diana, daughter
of Sir William Mordaunt Milner of Nun Appleton,
York, and of his wife, Diana, daughter of Humphrey
Sturt, of Horton, Dorset.

The marriage took place the end of 1804, and
in 1805, probably to give him some occupation of
a sedentary nature, where he could look after his
health a little, through Nelson's influence he was
appointed Chief Paymaster of Marines in London.

From that time his active life closed. I have
not got the date of his promotion to Major, but I
believe it to be 1803.

In 1807 he exchanged to the half-pay of the
54th Regiment, and was promoted Lieut.-Colonel
in 1810.

In 1808 he joined the Board of Excise, and in
1812 was appointed Chairman of that body, and
it is stated showed great ability in the management
of its affairs.

He was appointed Deputy- Lieutenant of the
Tower in 1826, Colonel in 1830, and Major-General
in 1836.

Towards the end of his life he allowed things
to worry him which, had he been in good health,
would probably not have affected him in any way.

He was extremely anxious about the career
of his younger brother, Carlo Doyle, who had
entered the Coldstream Guards in 1803, and who

134 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

was rather a dashing young man, and inclined to
outrun the constable. He himself was also much
pressed for money, which makes one think that
he and his wife were very bad managers.

His salary as Chairman of the Board of Excise
was ^2000 a year, his half-pay as a General and
salary as Deputy-Lieutenant must have been nearly
another ,£1000, so that he must have had nearly
^4000 a year, which in those days was quite
well off.

I believe, however, he got into difficulties, and
died a good deal in debt. On two occasions also
he had to undertake the disagreeable and difficult
task of attempting to arbitrate between husband
and wife. Lady Byron applied to him to act on
her behalf in the attempt to settle her affairs with
her husband, and being an old family friend it was
impossible to refuse, and he, in conjunction with
Dr. Lushington and Sir Robert Wilmot Horton,
a cousin and early friend of Byron's, decided
that she ought to separate from her husband.

My father thinks this decision the more re-
markable, as the three men had had entirely different
training and followed different careers. My grand-
father had tossed about the world in the army from
the time he was ten years old ; Dr Lushington was
a highly successful Oxford man, fellow of a college,
who became a brilliant advocate ; Sir Robert Horton,

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 135

a country squire, an able civil servant, a profes-
sional politician — and yet these three men, so dif-
ferent in antecedents and character, were completely
in unison, and held that Lady Byron had no choice
but to press for a separation.

In Lord Broughton's Memoirs of a Long Life
there are several letters of my grandfather's
given dealing with this subject, but are signed
"J. H. Doyle," which is evidently a misprint for
"F. H. Doyle."

In consequence of the part he had taken in this
affair, my father told me that my grandfather daily
expected a challenge from Byron, and it was ar-
ranged that if one arrived General Stapylton was
to be his second.

It is curious to see how in those days the Army
was the final court of appeal in all matters of
honour.

Last winter I was looking over with my cousin,
Arthur Wynn, some letters from my mother's
father, the Right Hon. Charles Wynn, to his wife.
There was one describing the duel between Lord
Buckingham, his first cousin, and Sir Thomas
Hardy, something to do with some anonymous
letters. They fought six miles out on the Hamp-
stead Road. Lord March was Sir Thomas
Hardy's second, and after one exchange of shots
he said, "He was aware there could be no

136 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

apology, and that therefore he should withdraw
his man."

Mr. Wynn, then a Cabinet Minister, writes to
his wife : " You would say that as there was no
apology a further exchange of shots was necessary ;
but Lord March quoted as a precedent a similar
case, when he had acted for his father, the Duke
of Richmond, at Brussels in the previous year, and
which had been approved of by the whole British
Army, then quartered in the vicinity. After that
there is, of course, no more to be said"

Byron's challenge to my grandfather never
arrived, so all ended well.

The other occasion that he attempted to mediate
between husband and wife was between the first
Lord and Lady Lytton.

Lady Lytton was a cousin of his, and towards
the end of his life applied to him for assistance.
He, and afterwards my father, attempted to help
her, but her temper and disposition were quite
impossible. Lord Lytton always behaved with
the greatest courtesy both to my grandfather and
father, but nothing came of the attempt to recon-
cile them, entirely owing to her unfortunate nature.
My father never forgave her, as he said that her
violent temper and the scenes she made shortened
my grandfather's life. Some years afterwards she
went to live in the country near my aunt, Mrs.

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 137

Leveson Gower, who wrote to my father to know
if she was respectable. He replied : " From your
point of view she is perfectly respectable ; her heart
is so full of envy, hatred, malice, and all unchari-
tableness that she has no room in it for any gentle
peccadillo if she tried." This, I believe, somehow
got round to her, and after writing him a letter,
directed " Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, Bart., Re-
ceiver-General of the Customs, however infamous,"
all intercourse between them ceased, and they
never met again.

In 1828 my grandfather was created a Baronet.
It appears there was some question of his father,
Welbore Ellis, being created one in 1796 or 1797,
but it came to nothing, partly because he repre-
sented that his elder brother, Sir John, had a prior
claim, and partly, I should think, from his being
much embarrassed for want of money.

At the time of the Reform Riots in 1831, when
the windows at Apsley House were broken by the
mob, my grandfather was in residence at the Tower
as Deputy-Lieutenant, the Duke of Wellington
being then Constable, and the following letter was
received from the Duke : —

LONDON, Oct. 10, 1831.

MY DEAR SIR, — I believe, from the symptoms
of riot around me, that it will be necessary that
I should have a few of my friends from the Tower

138 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

in my house this night, and I should be much
obliged if you will send three or four here as early
as you can. They had better come in a coach.
— Ever yours most faithfully,

WELLINGTON.

Colonel Sir F. H. DOYLE, Bart.

Another letter with reference to business con-
nected with the Tower is dated 1834.

LONDON, August 19, 1834.

MY DEAR SIR, — I enclose a letter, which is
possibly from a madman, and may not deserve
your attention.

It is just possible, however, that the property to
which he refers may belong to the Crown. I re-
commend that you should see Mr. Ballantine on
the subject, and, consult with him respecting the
steps to be taken. — Believe me, ever yours, most
sincerely, WELLINGTON.

Colonel Sir F. H. DOYLE, Bart.

In 1837 my grandfather, from ill-health, was
forced to retire from the Chairmanship of the
Board of Excise.

From his length of service on the Board he
had become entitled to a pension of about ^1000
or ;£i2OO a year. This through some accident
at first was not paid, and as he regarded the
neglect as a deliberate slight, he never applied
for his pension at all ; and this is one reason, I

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE, BART. 139

think, why his affairs were so much involved at
his death.

My grandfather died in 1839 at the age of fifty-
six, simply of old age brought on by the hardship
and exposure he had endured as a child. His
pension for the time he had retired was never paid.

There is a very good picture of him in my
brother's possession, but it has rather a curious
look, and it appears that it had to be finished after
his death. He died in London, and was buried at
Willesden.

MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES JOSEPH
DOYLE

CHARLES JOSEPH, commonly called Carlo Doyle,
was the second son of Welbore Ellis Doyle, and
was born at Warsaw in 1787, while his father
was Military Envoy at that place.

He was called Joseph after the Emperor, who
was his godfather, and from that fact I thought
it probable that my great-grandfather had been
in some way attached to the Austrian Embassy
at Vienna, but that does not seem to have been
the case. Carlo had more chance of education
than my grandfather, his elder brother, as he was
sixteen before he joined the Army, being gazetted
to the Coldstream Guards in 1803.

With them he accompanied the expedition to
Bremen and Hanover in that year.

In 1806 he returned to England, and in March
of that year was appointed A.D.C. to the Lord-
Lieutenant of Ireland, the Duke of Bedford. At
that time he no doubt commenced his acquaint-
ance with Sir Arthur Wellesley, then Chief
Secretary.

In 1807 he was appointed Captain in the

140

MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE
(1813)

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 141

87th Prince's Own Regiment, at Guernsey, and
in 1808 was attached to the Spanish Guerillas in
. the north of Spain. There are not many records
of his doings with them, and he seems rather to
have wandered about from one force to another,
and led, what to a young man who was not
twenty-two, rather an exciting life.

He appears, however, towards the end of 1808
to have attached himself principally to the Marquis
de Romana, and, among other affairs, was present
at the disastrous battle for the Spaniards of
Espinosa, where he was wounded and narrowly
escaped capture by the French.

He, however, followed Romana into the Astu-
rian Mountains, and was appointed Corresponding
Officer from the Spanish headquarters by Sir John
Moore. While taking part in the operations of
Romana, during Sir John Moore's retreat, Carlo
Doyle was cut off on a reconnaissance by the
French cavalry, but after three days in the
mountains, finding it impossible to get back to
the Spaniards, he joined the British army two
days before Corunna, and took part in that
battle.

He returned to England with the force,
and in 1809 joined the 87th in Portugal, was
appointed Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General,
and attached to the advance. He was present

142 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

at the battles of the roth and nth of May 1809,
the passage of the Douro, the taking of Oporto,
Ruveans, and the battle of Talavera. Talavera
was fought on the 28th of July 1809, and after
the battle something accidentally fired the dry
grass and scrub.

Carlo Doyle's division was on one side of a
river, and the fire started the other side.

Every one thought that on the conflagration
reaching the water it would have to stop, but it
leapt the river and rushed through the tents,
blowing up a powder magazine as it passed to
a forest behind them ; and as the fire kept eating
its way onwards, the crash of falling trees could
be heard all through the night.

Carlo had to undergo some chaff as to his
care for his clothes. He was somewhat of a
dandy, and at one time was supposed to be one
of the best-looking men in the British army.

When he saw that nothing could save the
camp, he was heard calling to his servant,
"John, John, you look to the horses, I will look
after my small things."

It was after this battle that the Spaniards in
Cuesta's army and in Talavera behaved so shame-
fully, allowing many of the wounded to perish
for want of food. In 1810 Carlo Doyle served
with General Fane's cavalry division in Beira

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 143

Baxa, and afterwards in covering the retreat of
General Hill's Corps to the lines near Lisbon.
He was engaged in the cavalry charges of Campo
Major, and always had the greatest admiration
for Colonel Head and the i3th Light Dragoons.
This regiment was in advance, supported by two
squadrons of the 7th Portuguese, and the heavy
cavalry under General Long was in reserve.

The French cavalry outnumbered the I3th and
Portuguese, but the Irish Colonel Head said to
them, " Mee lads, you see those fellows over there ;
tip 'em the Brummagem, spurrs and sa-a-bres."

After a desperate encounter they overthrew
the French hussars, and then had to endure the
fire of some infantry squares ; but without flinch-
ing galloped upon the battering train, cut down
the gunners, and drawing up barred the line of
the French march, expecting the heavy cavalry
to join in. Beresford, however, would not allow
the heavy cavalry to charge, upon the mistaken
information of a German Staff Officer that the
1 3th had been annihilated, and the French resumed
their march. The I3th, under Colonel Head, and
the 7th Portuguese, under Colonel Otway, how-
ever, continued their pursuit to the bridge of
Badajos, and were fired upon by the guns of
that fortress.

Carlo Doyle, who had charged with them, said

i44 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

that as they came back at a swinging trot through
squares of French infantry the French were
swaying like reeds in the wind, and that he could
hear the expostulations of the officers, " Tenez
ferme, mais tenez ferme done," as they passed.
General Long, who had come up with the heavy
cavalry, blew up Colonel Head sky - high for
his adventurous ride, and ended his reprimand
thus : —

" I suppose, Colonel Head, if you had found
the gates of Badajos open, you would have ridden
into the market-place."

He did not get much change, however, out of
the Irishman, who assented at once. " By Jasus,
and that I would."

The 1 3th were reprimanded in general orders
for their disorderly pursuit, but it does not seem
to have affected them much, as a fortnight later
at Usagre they again charged two French cavalry
regiments and pursued them for five miles, putting
300 of them hors de combat without the loss of a
man.

Carlo was present at the two combats of Fuentes
d'Onor. On the evening of the first fight, a patrol
having captured a French officer, took the prisoner
to him, the Sergeant making the following remark :
"If you please, sir, we don't know what he means,
but he says he is a Parliamentary." He was

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 145

marched off to Lord Wellington, who at once said,
" Send him to the rear."

" But, my lord, he says he is a Parliamentaire."

" Parliamentaire be d — d ; send him to the
rear."

On his way, to make himself agreeable to his
captors, the Frenchman began to talk about the
difference of the French and English soldiers.

" Quant a vous," he said, " vous n'avez qu'a
dire Halt, front, dress, et voila vous gredins enligne.
Quant a nous, il faut repeter, Avancez, mes amis ;
avancez, mes enfants ; bien heureux s'ils ne re-
pondent pas, Avancez vous-m£me, M. le Capi-
taine."

What part Carlo took in the rest of the cam-
paign I don't quite know. At one time he was on
the Staff under the immediate orders of Sherbrook,
and was the Staff Officer of the well-known story,
which is often put down to Picton, but for which
in reality Sherbrook was responsible.

I mean the one where, being sent to a Com-
missary to order bread to be at a certain place
on a certain day, my great-uncle found him. enter-
taining a party of friends at a sumptuous repast.

In reply to the order, he sent back as a message
that he would do his best to comply with the
General's requests. The threat of hanging if he

failed, and Lord Wellington strongly advising him

K

146 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

to obey the order, as Sherbrook was a man of his
word, are too well known to repeat.

In 1812 my great-uncle was promoted Major,
and ordered to take command of a battalion in
Guernsey.

In 1813 he was appointed Military Secretary
to the first Marquis of Hastings, Governor-General
of India.

It was something indeed to be Governor-
General of India in those days, and his Military
Secretary had a most interesting and exciting life
from 1813 to 1823. In 1814-15, he was with
the field force, in the Western Provinces of
Hindostan, accompanying General Ochterlony
during the first part of the Nepaul War ; but
later was recalled to Cawnpore, where a force
was being organised to resist Amir Khan and to
overawe India.

From 1814 to 1822 there are five volumes of
original letters addressed to him as Military Secre-
tary ; but it is difficult to know where he was, as
they are only directed to Colonel Doyle, Military
Secretary, Headquarters.

The first one is from the ill-fated General
Gillespie, who was killed in November 1814 at
the Fort of Kalunga. It is dated October 1814, and
complains bitterly of the reserve and disagreeable
conduct of General Ochterlony ; the second is from

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 147

Colonel Macauley, dated November 30, 1814, de-
tailing the repulse of the storming party before
Kalunga, and how the enemy were afterwards
shelled out of the fort. There are two from
Captain Dwyer, detailing the taking of Almora
by Colonel Nicol in April 1815.

I wish I had seen these letters before, as the
only time I ever had command of a side, with a
mixed force, at manoeuvres was between Almora
and Raniket.

CAMP BEFORE ALMORA,
i<)th April 1815.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — It is some days since I
received yours of the 5th instant, and have de-
layed writing till I had something interesting to
relate.

The day before yesterday Colonel Nicol crossed
the river with 250 irregulars, leaving 200 regulars
in a concealed situation.

We pushed a reconnaissance sufficiently near
their stockaded position to have tempted them
to attack us, but they did not attempt it, and
showed evidently their anxiety for their left post,
which is naturally their strongest, being 900 feet
above the mountain on which we are encamped,
and we are sky-high. Colonel Nicol has had
British ensigns hoisted on all the highest quarters
of the line which we occupy west of the Capillah
river.

The climate here is quite delightful, the country

148 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

very beautiful, plenty of corn, &c., though it
cannot be called rich. We have the wild vine,
peach, walnut, and pomegranate in the greatest
profusion.

Should you want a change of air, you ought to
run up to Almora. — Yours, F. DWYER.

Colonel DOYLE,
Military Secretary, Headquarters.

ALMORA, April, 28, 1815.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I enclose you a rough
sketch (not found) of the plan of our operations
here on the 25th inst., as it presented itself to
us from the hill which we lately occupied, with a
table of heights and distances. You may form a
tolerably correct idea of what the troops per-
formed.

We did not meet with very strong opposition
during the day, but the night work was very
severe. The whole has terminated gloriously,
and, I hope, will prove very important, and pro-
duce consequences the most beneficial to you and
Headquarters.

There is a mulberry tree here 34 ft. in circum-
ference at the lower part ; its branches shade
much ground. There is a choice situation for
a cantonment here ; probably it may become one
before long. — Yours, F. DWYER.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 149

Captain Dwyer was, I think, an extra A.D.C.
to Lord Hastings, who had been allowed to go up
on the Staff of Colonel Nicol.

Peace having been established with Nepaul,
the end of 1815, an expedition was despatched to
Java, and to what is now known as the Dutch
East Indies. Carlo Doyle accompanied the force
as A.A.G. with the rank of Colonel. There are no
letters from him in this year ; but there is what
would now be called " an appreciation of the
situation " in Celebes, a large island between Borneo
and New Guinea, which, I suppose, was compiled
for Lord Hastings' benefit, as it is almost the only
time Carlo's handwriting appears in the whole five
volumes. I shall quote part of it.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROGRESS AND RESULT OF
OUR CONNECTIONS IN CELEBES

Previous to the establishment of Europeans in
these seas, Celebes appears to have been a pros-
perous and civilised country, which from the
character of its inhabitants, and the nature of its
commercial connections, maintained an ascendancy
throughout the Eastern Islands.

It is not intended in these remarks to trace the
progress of its decline, but it may be proper to
premise that to the barbarities inflicted by Euro-
peans, especially the Dutch, may be immediately
ascribed the convulsed and distracted state in which

150 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

it was found, on the establishment of the British
power in these seas.

In originally taking up the Dutch relations in the
country we incurred in some degree the necessity
of maintaining them, and having but little previous
acquaintance with the country and the conduct of
our predecessors in it, we were unprepared to act
on an exclusive principle of our own.

It soon appeared that the principal object of the
Dutch in connection with Celebes was to protect
their commercial monopolies, and in pursuance of
this object they had embraced a policy, that of
dividing the country, incompatible for a British
Government to uphold.

The native powers were drawn in collision,
disputes were fomented, and the slave trade
encouraged, rendering the country one general
scene of devastation and distress even within the
town and environs of Macassah ; under the cir-
cumstances it may be expedient to keep in view
the following proposals, which may arise out of the
peculiar and unprecedented circumstances of its
possession : —

ist. If the Dutch are in a condition to maintain
our relation and ratify our engagements in Celebes
on terms compatible with our good faith ; whether
that dependency is not, in the first instance, to be
relieved, to enable us to assemble our troops, and
withdraw from an arduous and embarrassing
situation ?

2nd. If they are unable to take immediate
possession on such terms, or unwilling to embrace

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 151

such stipulation, on what footing are we to retain
it? As a dependency of Dutch Java, it would be
awkward, nay impracticable, or as an insulated
possession of our own, unless by uniting the eastern
country, now dependent upon Molucias, and em-
ploying its resources while reducing Boni.

The latter measure would be so far facilitated,
that we should be able to command the services of
the Colonial Corps, which will probably decline the
Dutch service.

In the meantime, as we are withheld from pro-
secuting the war energetically, it is advisable that
all offensive operations should cease, that we should
limit ourselves to preserving the integrity of our own
territories, and in our relations with the chieftains in
alliance with us, omit no opportunity of conciliating
the feuds subsisting in the country, and engage with
our subjects and allies to uphold their interests,
when the Dutch authority may be renewed.

C. D.

In 1816 Carlo Doyle returned to Calcutta, and
in that year the Pindaris, always predatory, alarmed
the Board of Directors by the depredations they
were committing in territory under British protection,
and after much pressure from Lord Hastings, they
at length sanctioned measures for their suppression.

The Mahratta powers were also becoming dis-
contented and warlike.

The Peishwa at Poona was thoroughly false and
treacherous.

152 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Holkar could not be depended upon, Sindia's
policy was extremely doubtful, and some uneasiness
was felt about Nagpur.

Lord Hastings formed alliances with Bhopal,
Jaipur, Udaipur, and Joelhpur, and in the summer
of 1817, arrangements were made for crushing the
Pindaris, and the Mahratta powers, if they should
join them.

If they all joined, it was estimated that the total
hostile force they could put in the field was 130,000
horse, 87,000 foot, and 550 guns.

A great operation was set on foot, to enclose
this formidable force, by a great concentric move-
ment, under the command of Lord Hastings ;
and the Company's forces, collected at the different
centres, amounted to about 120,000 men and 300
guns.

The northern Army under personal command
of Lord Hastings had four divisions : —

General Brown at Etawa, General Donkin at
Agra, General Marshall at Kalinga, Sir D. Ochter-
lony in reserve at Rivari, covering Delhi.

The southern Army under Sir Thomas Hislop.

Hislop at Jalua, Malcolm at Amroati.

Doveton was on the Penganga river, not far
from Risod.

General Smith on the Upper Godavery river,
communicating with Baroda, Colonel Adams at

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 153

Hoshangabad, General Pritzler near Poona, and Sir
W. Grant Keir at Baroda.

Later there were two detachments at Jubhul-
pore and Nagpur, under Brigadier-General Hardy-
man and Major O'Brien respectively.

The only route left open was that which led
eventually to the Bikaneer Desert and the Punjaub.
Lord Hastings advanced to Siunda, in Scindia's
dominions, the very end of October, and Donkin at
the same time advanced to Dholpore.

Carlo Doyle was, of course, with the Governor-
General, but having traced him to Siunda, all the
letters being to him, and not from him, and only
directed " Headquarters," it is impossible to follow his
movements. Nearly all the letters contain reports
from the different columns, and give accounts of the
breaking up, and pursuits of bands of Pindaris, and
the capture of forts about the country.

Apparently it was the duty of Headquarters
to impress upon the columns the importance of
a proper use of artillery in attacking a fortress, as
they were all inclined to assault too soon, and
lose lives uselessly.

I shall only give a few of the letters that I
think are of general interest.

The first from General Donkin is dated Meerut,
August 1 6, 1817, and says : —

154 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

" Pray, am I likely to have the 8;th with me?
Recollect I took that corps first into action at
Talavera."

One from General Donkin, dated Agra, Oct. 29,
1817, in which the following occurs : —

" The scarcity is diminished, though not now
diminishing. There has been great distress. Many
people have sold their children into slavery here,
and numbers have precipitated themselves down
wells, there to drown, rather than starve."

If this should meet the eye of Mr. Keir Hardie
and his friends, who say the English have done
nothing in India, it may give them cause for
reflection.

One from General Donkin, from Agra, in
which, like many Generals, he complains of his
commanding officers : —

AGRA, October 3U/, 1817.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — The dawk hour is approach-
iug, so I must address you quickly. I had this
morning for the first time a field day of instruction
for my infantry brigade, without ceremony and
salutes or marching past.

Commanding officers very rusty. One is deaf
and blind — literally so. The second has never
before been out acting with another regiment
in line.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 155

A third has never been in command till within
the last few days. The fourth has a voice like
thunder, a figure like Lumbo Panjo, a seat in his
saddle like a washball, but a clear head, and knows
what he is about.

I shall not hang names under these pictures.
The deaf and blind officer is incurable ; I cannot
remove such obstacles ; the others will mend.

All my corps are remarkably fine. It is a pity
that this army is not exercised more in masses. I
need add nothing to my letter of yesterday.

We are all ready and waiting. No wants. —
Yours very truly, R. DONKIN.

Colonel DOYLE,
Military Secretary, Headquarters.

CAMP TAGON, halfway between Agra and Dholpur,
November ith, 1817.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — As I wrote to Lord Hastings
yesterday, reporting the arrival of the Bhurtpore
Contingent, I need not trouble his lordship again
to-day.

The chiefs and sahibs occupy one's time a good
deal with ceremonial.

The Bhurtpore Sirdar yesterday made battle
for an hour about my coming outside the camp to
embrace him, but this compliment I have reserved
for the Ranee of Dholpore, and I gave Colonel Tura
Mund his hug in my tent.

I shall be at Dholpore the day after to-morrow

156 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

and wait for orders. I have not heard from Head-
quarters for four days.

I have written to Captain Close at Gwalior to
propose his laying a dak through, as the way by
Cawnpore is very circuitous. I send this through
Captain Close as an experiment. Believe me, my
dear Colonel, yours very truly, R. DONKIN.

CAMP, KOORHALGHUR, November 30, 1817.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — We were much distressed
to hear that you and Captain FitzClarence had been
taken ill with the dreadful disease that has been so
busy in your camp (cholera), but rejoice that you
have both now recovered.

No poaching on my manor, mind, and let me
take Rampoora. — Yours very truly,

R. DONKIN.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

If two of the Headquarter Staff were seized
with cholera and both recovered, I think they were
extremely lucky.

A letter from General Donkin, announcing the
capture of the wife of Kurrem Mahomed, a Pindari
chief.

CAMP ON THE POOBATH,
December 18, 1817.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — . . . Kurrem's wife, on being
taken, denied herself, but on being taken to Colonel
Gardner's tent all the other women prostrated them-

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 157

selves before her. She then confessed, and putting
some grass in her mouth, crossways, which is under-
stood to say, " I am your cow," or, in other words,
" Have the same consideration for me as the Hindoos
have for that sacred animal," she burst into tears,
and asked if Kurrem was alive. On being assured
we had not fallen in with him, she said, " I will eat ;
I have tasted nothing for two days."

One circumstance renders the capture rather
romantic. Colonel Gardner came , to me, with
tears in his eyes, and said, " I have come to
implore you that you will leave Kurrem's wife
with me, as eighteen years ago Kurrem saved
my wife for me."

I need hardly say I had great pleasure in com-
plying with this request. — I am, yours truly,

R. DONKIN.
Colonel DOYLE.

The following from Major Wallace, describing
the Battle of Kirkee. I had always imagined it
to be a more important action.

CAMP, JANLENCH, 2 ist Dec. 1817.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — I promised to give you
an account of the campaign, since the attack on
Colonel Burr on November 5th last, with my own
remarks on the operations.

[After detailing the march from Kandiah on
November ist he states :] We reached Sirur on
November nth, and were attacked near Rajun-

158 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

pore, about twelve miles from there, by Narra Punt,
with a very large body of cavalry.

We had none to oppose to him but 1500 of
Captain Spiller's irregulars.

Our baggage was much scattered, notwithstand-
ing strict orders to the contrary, and we sustained
great loss in public and private property.

Captain Spiller behaved bravely, was wounded
in the cheek, and several of his men killed ; but
they killed many of the enemy, and prevented
much mischief.

During the night Narra Punt received strong
reinforcement from Gocklier, with orders to dis-
pute till death with us the pass of Lonea. They
attempted to do so, and it was a strong position ;
but the horse artillery and riflemen soon cleared
the way, and we soon had the pleasure of seeing
Colonel Burr's camp at Kirkee, and the Peishwa's
whole army encamped near Poona.

It was now the i3th November, and we had
marched 160 miles from Ankrota, as fast as any
force encumbered with a park ever did. The
Peishwa was thought to be within our grasp, and
every heart beat high.

The whole of next day we spent in making
arrangements for a night attack, mounting some
heavy guns on Picquet Hill, &c. That night on
approaching the ford it was found difficult, and
the whole army returned to camp practically with-
out a shot having been fired.

The next day parties were sent down to try

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 159

the ford, and we were all day engaged with the
enemy, men being killed on both sides.

On the forenoon of the i6th we were closely
engaged along the river by the Arabs, who had
cover, and showed great boldness in defending
their posts.

But about two o'clock Colonel Milne and two
brigades forced the ford, and took up a position
on the enemy's side. In doing this there was
some loss, for the cannonade from the enemy, till
silenced by our guns, was very smart, and the
Arabs fought till forced by the bayonet. I am
at a loss to know why the whole did not cross,
push on, and force the Peishwa's camp. My soul
was filled with disappointment.

The other division, under General Smith,
bivouacked on the Kirkee side, and crossing the
river in the grey of the morning without opposi-
tion, formed up on the right of Colonel Milne ;
then we advanced to attack the lines of the
enemy.

But they had made good their retreat during
the night, and carried off nearly all their baggage
and camp equipage. We saw the hills covered
with their infantry and followers, and did not
pursue them.

The city of Poona surrendered, and we en-
camped near it. Thus the Peishwa and his
army escaped, and Sir Thomas Hislop had the
opportunity of issuing some of the most flowery
orders on the occasion of our success. I cannot

160 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

guess what he would have said had we cut the
Peishwa and all his army to pieces. . . . — Yours,

R. G. WALLACE.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

There are one or two letters from E. Fitz-
Clarence, who apparently was on the Governor-
General's Staff, and had been ordered home.

JUBULPORE, Dec. \f)th% 1817.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I have the pleasure to in-
form you that General Hardy man fell in with the
troops of the Nagpore Raja this morning strongly
posted in front of the Jubal Mountain; the hill was
carried, and Lieut. Pope of the cavalry charged on
the left flank and cut them up. I wish I had
charged with the cavalry, but was forced to remain
with the 1 7th.

I think myself lucky in having seen a little
fight before leaving India. — God bless you.

E. FlTzCLARENCE.

A curious letter from Colonel Gardner, relative
to the customs of the Palace of Oudeypur : —

MUNDLAH, Jan. i, 1818.

MY DEAR SIR, — . . . The present Ranah (of
Oudeypur) has several Ranees, but does not honour
them with his presence until he receive intimation
that such a Ranee wishes the happiness of behold-
ing his sublime presence, and has prepared the
customary Nuzzur (300 rupees).

-

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 161

The invitation is accepted by the Ranah, who
proceeds in state, attended by the Court and
officers of his palace, and, preceded by music,
arrives at the Zenana door.

Here he leaves his retinue, and is conducted to
the lady's apartments. The Nuzzur is presented
and accepted.

This is a sign for the attendants to withdraw,
with the exception of three Maids of Honour, who
do not retire on any occasion.

In a short time, by a loud and joyful clapping
of hands, these ladies communicate the happy event
to the females in waiting without, who, with con-
gratulations, pass it on to the music ; these transfer
it to the trumpeters. Thus the whole town and
surrounding villages know that the King drinks to
Hamlet.

The 300 rupees is distributed to the vocal and
instrumental performers. — I am, my dear sir, most
respectfully and sincerely yours,

W. GARDNER.

Colonel DOYLE,
Military Secretary, Headquarters.

On the ist of January 1818 a very gallant
action took place at Korreghaum, about half-way
between Poona and Sirur.

Captain Staunton, marching from Sirur to rein-
force Colonel Burr at Poona, with 500 men and two
guns, found himself intercepted by the whole of
the Peishwa's army of 20,000 horse and 8000 foot
at Korreghaum, a village on the banks of a small

162 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

river. After nine hours' fighting Captain Staunton
repulsed the enemy with great loss, but with a
loss to himself of 271 men.

A column to commemorate this exploit stands
on the spot. I don't know when it was erected,
but it must have been mooted shortly afterwards,
as I find several sheets of paper, with ideas for
an inscription, in my great-uncle's handwriting. I
saw the monument once, when on manoeuvres from
Poona in 1902 ; and if he wrote the inscription
which now exists, I don't think he made a bad
job of it.

THIS COLUMN

is erected to commemorate the defence of Korreg-
haum by a detachment under Captain Staunton,
Bombay Establishment, which on the ist January
1818 was surrounded by the entire army of the
Peishwa, under his personal command, and with-
stood throughout the day a series of the most
obstinate and sanguinary assaults of his best
troops.

CAPTAIN STAUNTON,

under the most appalling circumstances, persevered
in his desperate resistance, and, seconded by the
unconquerable spirit of his detachment, at length
achieved the signal discomfiture of the enemy, and
accomplished one of the proudest triumphs of the
British army in the East.

To perpetuate the memory of the brave troops,

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 163

to whose heroic firmness and devotion it owes the
glory of that day,
i

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

has directed that the names of their Corps, and of
the killed and wounded, shall be inscribed on this
monument.

271 killed and wounded out of 500.

If they fought hard in those days, they were
extremely well treated by the authorities.

A subaltern of the Poona Horse, who was in
this action, lost his baggage, and afterwards put
in a claim for 8000 rupees for the loss of "his
breakfast service, dinner service, day, night, and
other loose tents."

This was paid without a murmur, and as the
rupee was worth over 2s., he received over ^800.

I can imagine what sort of a reception a claim
of that sort would meet with nowadays.

The Official Report of Sir John Malcolm on
the battle at Mechidpore, fought with Holkar's
troops on the 2Oth December 1817, is rather long;
I think a letter from Captain Briggs gives a more
interesting acconnt.

Sir John Malcolm, after extolling the gallantry
of the troops, particularly mentions Colonel Scott,
Major Bo wen, Captain Hulme, Major Andrews,
Major Snow, Captain Walker, Major Knollys,

164 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Major Smith, Major Caddell, Captain Stewart,
Major Borthwick, Captain Briggs, Lieutenant Bell,
Lieutenant Hodges, Captain Evans, Paymaster,
who, on the Brigade-Major of the Light Brigade
being killed, acted in that capacity, and was
wounded ; Captain Caulfield, Bengal Cavalry.
A letter describing the battle, from Captain

Briggs :—

MECHIDPORE,/#«. 5, 1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — I regret not having been
able to write to let you know before how things
went in this quarter, but I have been continually
in bed or on a palankeen, till the 2ist, when I
mounted my horse, and got a relapse of jungle
fever ; and when I tell you that during those
three weeks I had no idea of what had become
of a wife and three small children, who were at
Poona during the treacherous attack of the Peishwa,
your pardon will, I am sure, be given me under
the circumstances.

[After describing the dispositions prior to the
battle, he continues :]

Sir John Malcolm went down to the ford, and
returned to Sir Thomas Hislop, saying, " I sup-
pose, sir, you would wish your light troops and
infantry to cross ? " Sir Thomas assented.

A brigade of cavalry were pushed across, and
were succeeded by the Light Brigade and the other
brigade of cavalry. During this time the enemy
had brought two formidable batteries of sixteen
heavy guns to bear on the ford.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 165

The Horse Artillery, consisting of fourteen
six-pounders, then crossed, and formed a sort of
tfae du pont on the bank.

The Light Brigade endeavoured to find cover
among the ravines, but were soon enfiladed by the
enemy's batteries.

The left Brigade then crossed, followed soon
after by the right.

The enemy's artillery fire was deadly ; nine guns
were disabled, and fifty-two horses killed, with many
men in a very short time.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the attack was
made by the advance of one whole line, and nothing
could exceed the ardour with which the troops
formed and rushed upon the batteries, the most
distant about 800 yards, and the nearest about 600.
The enemy's artillery were by no means appalled,
and laid and depressed each gun, as the infantry
advanced upon them. They made use of grape and
chain shot, and it is remarkable, hardly any mounted
officers were wounded, and almost all the infantry
were hit about the legs.

In less than ten minutes, thirty officers and over
700 men were mown down, while the determination
of the enemy's artillerymen was such that some
instances occurred of their clasping their guns, and
suffering themselves to be bayoneted rather than
quit them.

As soon as the guns were carried, the fire of our
infantry became so hot, that the fourteen battalions
of the enemy's infantry broke and fled, without
further opposition, while our small band of cavalry

i66 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

(1200) took them in flank, and for two miles the
ground was strewn with whole battalions of them,
and a pursuit of them by 4000 Mysore Horse com-
pleted the victory.

Holkar's army was scattered, and four days
afterwards the whole of his baggage was in our
hands.

I have not said a word of any individual in the
action, but with all his friends, you will be happy to
hear that Sir John Malcolm was everywhere, and at
length headed the Europeans at the attack on the
batteries. — I am, my dear sir, yours very truly,

JOHN BRIGGS.

Colonel DOYLE,
Military Secretary, Headquarters.

P.S. — The Rocket Troop proved wholly in-
efficient, and most of the rockets exploded the
moment they ignited, instead of fusing.

One from Colonel Adams' force :—

CAMP, GUNGRAM, \-$th January 1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — It is with sentiments of
the highest satisfaction I transmit for the informa-
tion of the most noble the Commander-in-Chief a
copy of my letter of this date to the Qr.-Mr.-General,
with a transcript of Major Clarke's report, stating
the almost complete destruction of the Durrahs of
Kurrcem Khan, and Wasil Mahommed. Naunda
Khan is among the slain, and I trust that the two
Rapillas of Capt. Robert's corps which I have

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 167

detached after the party of Pindaris mentioned in
my letter to Col. Blacker will return with a good
account of them. — I remain, yours very truly,

T. W. ADAMS.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

Another letter from E. Fitzclarence, just before
sailing : —

BOMBAY, zbtk June 1818.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — His Highness the Peishwa
nearly had the honour of taking me and my
despatches, near the famous village of Korreghaum
on my road here.

After a march of 40 miles, I safely reached
Poona, but 1000 of his Highness's cavalry were
upon the road, and prevented the return of my
escort the next day.

I arrived here on the 3rd, and was received
with great kindness by Sir E. Nepean at his house.

I sail to-morrow, but fear I shall not be able to
reach Suez, as it is too late in the year, but shall
do all I can. Many thanks for your two letters.
Thank God, the lord has things turning up as he
most desires ; he ought and must be quite delighted.
I have heard once from him, and he writes in
excellent spirits. This is not so bad a place as I
expected. Remember me to all. God bless you.
— Yours ever,

E. FITZCLARENCE.

i68 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

CAMP, NEAR RAMPOORA,
February 8, 1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — We now expect to hear
in one or two days what you think of our success
at Jaund. I hope you will be content.

On going over the ground, and considering it, I
was astonished at the facility and cheapness with
which we obtained it ; I can only account for it by
saying that as soon as the Bhow's cannon opened,
"nous brusquames raffaire," and much bloodshed
was saved by boldly and deliberately doing what
was determined on.

The First is certainly as dirty a battalion as there
is in the service, but there is not a more steady or
more spirited one, and the obedience which they
paid to the General's orders, to refrain from plunder
in a town which they had taken by assault three
minutes before, was admirable.

Remember the map which I wish your permis-
sion to have a copy of, and remember me in the
arrangements that are made. — Yours very truly,

W. G. BEATSON.

By February 1818 Lord Hastings had been
uniformly successful, and organised resistance was
at end, and henceforward the letters are reports
of the assaults on the various robber forts there
were scattered over the country, and the breaking
up of small bands of Pindaris.

Some of Holkar's cavalry had indeed been
acting with us, and the following letter from

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 169

Captain Beatson, with General Malcolm's force, is
rather curious : —

CAMP, NEAR RAMPOORA,
March 5^,1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — All is quiet here ; we
are looking for news from the south. Sir John
Malcolm marched yesterday from Holkar's camp
to Michedpore.

Before leaving, a curious incident occurred.
A body of Holkar's best horse dashed into his
camp, and rode up to his tent. The chief, alight-
ing, said they had come to complain of Suntia Jog,
and as they found it impossible to get their arrears
from him, they wished to solicit permission to join
the Peishwa.

Sir John entered into discourse with them,
condoled with them upon their distress for money,
and assured them that they should have his per-
mission to go, but that the danger was so great
he advised their remaining.

"First," says he, "there is Colonel Scott with
part of my force at Michedpore, and Colonel Adams
near Bilsa. If you pass Colonel Scott you will
come upon Sir William Keir at Indore. There
are troops at Hindia and troops at Sandwah, and
if you get into Khandesh you will come upon
General Doveton, and after all this you will find
General Smith and two or three armies pursuing
the Peishwa, and will inevitably be entrapped by
some of these detachments." They said it was
very true, and that it would be more difficult than

170 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

they supposed, and that it would be better to stay
where they were.

After this conversation they returned to their
camp. — Yours truly, W. G. BEATSON.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

Captain Beatson was anxious for a Staff appoint-
ment, and later had been going down to Calcutta
to take one up ; but he writes to Carlo, " That
he is deeply in love with Miss Humphreys, and
that as you are not an old Colonel but a young
one, you will excuse this very natural desire to
stay some months in this happy state."

An unfortunate occurrence happened at Talnair.

After the fort had surrendered and several
officers had gone inside, they were treacherously
set upon, and several killed and wounded. Captain
M'Gregor killed, Colonel Murray, Major Gordon,
Lieutenant Anderson, Lieutenant Channel, wounded.
There were also eight men killed and sixteen
wounded. The garrison were afterwards put to the
sword.

The following is a letter from General Malcolm
on the subject : —

CAMP, MICHEDPORE,

March %th, 1818.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I have been so much pressed
lately, I have no time to write ; but I now have
a prospect of more leisure.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 171

You will have been grieved to hear of the fine
fellows we lost at that rascally little place, Talnair.

I trust in God Murray will recover ; he is a
gallant fellow.

There are many accounts of this affair ; the most
trustworthy is the one I send you.

I thought of your lecture about Haterass1 when
I heard of this business, but we cannot all com-
mand such means.

I have, however, requested Sir V. Keir to lend
me two i8-pounder guns and two howitzers, and,
by the blessing of God, I will make an example of
the first fort which shows fight.

I was much obliged by what you said about
Bell ; he is a most admirable young officer, and
I am under obligations to him for his uniform good
conduct. — Yours very sincerely,

JOHN MALCOLM.
Colonel DOYLE,
Military Secretary, Headquarters.

One letter from Colonel Adams struck me very

much : —

CAMP, WINGHAU, April %th, 1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — From my letter of the
5th inst., you no doubt concluded I was on the
point of commencing a chase after Bazai Baw, in
the direction of the Godavery, but circumstances
have occurred to prevent my proceeding further

1 Haterass was a strong and important fortress in the Doab
deemed impregnable. It was reduced by Lord Hastings in fifteen
hours by the fire of forty-two mortars.

172 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

south, for the present at least, and most likely
altogether, for in the first place I was obliged to
halt here and send all my supplies to Colonel
Scott at Chanda, who was in great need, and who
sent me two most pressing expresses. . . . — Yours
very truly, J. W. ADAMS.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

In South Africa I don't see any column halt-
ing and sending all its supplies over to another
column, simply because they were in need, and
without orders from a superior officer.

They did play up in those days to one another,
and I believe that was one reason that they were
so uniformly successful.

A letter from General Marshall's Corps : —

CAWNPORE, 27 th May 1818.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — Your letter, after passing
me on the road, was returned from Jubulpore.

I need not assure you how truly gratifying it
was to read your favourable sentiments of our
proceedings at Mundlah, and General Marshall,
to whom I read your letter, has charged me to
return you his hearty thanks and acknowledgments
for the congratulations you have offered him.

I sincerely join with you in hoping we may
never see another case of Cholera Morbus. I be-
lieve the cause of it to be the use of tank water

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 173

and exposure without cover at night. — I am, yours
very truly, W. L. WATSON,

Brigadier- General.
Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

I may mention that, besides recovering from
cholera himself, Carlo Doyle once pulled a favourite
servant through by rather a daring experiment.

The doctors having given the man up, he
posted a man to keep watch on his pulse, and
whenever that threatened to stop, he poured in a
teaspoonful of camphorated spirits of wine, and
as the man did not die either of the disease or
the remedy, my great-uncle was very proud of his
medical triumph.

The following is a letter from quite a different
part of the world. The writer, Major C. Auber,
was afterwards rather a celebrated Indian historian.

KANDI, 24^ December 1818.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I have travelled through the
whole of the interior, and have visited all the forts,
passes, and defiles, and I can, in some measure,
give you a tolerable description of this extraordi-
nary country, and the cause of the no less extra-
ordinary system of warfare that has been carried on
in it.

The greater part of the interior is composed
of chains of mountains and hills covered with the
thickest jungle and wood I have ever beheld, the

174 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

valleys between so narrow that musketry from
either side can take effect.

Had the present force been in the country it
is probable that no rebellion would have broken
out, and even if it had, it might have been nipped
in the bud. But unfortunately our troops were so
barely sufficient for the defence of the various mili-
tary posts that they were obliged to shut themselves
up. This being the case the enemy gained such
confidence that convoys were attacked. When
enabled by increase of force to assume the offensive,
a speedy termination was put to the rising.

The natives, with the exception of those on the
coast, are savages, and one large province is filled
with a wild race called Veldas ; they are much like
B heels, have no habitations save the trees, and no
method of livelihood save the bow, nor have they
any intercourse with other natives of the island.
There are many Mussulmen in the island, but most
of them are followers of Buddha. The climate in
the interior is delightful. I feel no inconvenience
from exposure to the sun all day, and a short time
ago the thermometer was as low as 46°.

The Brigadier still remains at Colombo, and
I am the only one of the Staff that has been ordered
into the interior. My employment, at present, is
to survey the unknown parts, and I have com-
menced trigonometrically on a large scale ; if I am
allowed to continue I shall be of some service here.

In my next letter I will endeavour to give you
an account of the different minerals, precious stones,
and valuable timber.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 175

I propose journeying to the top of Adam's Peak
next week. — Believe me, yours very truly,

C. AUBER.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

A letter from Colonel Lincoln Stanhope, i?th
Light Dragoons, which showed that even in 1819
the work of putting down the marauding bands still
continued : —

CAMP, 20 MILES EAST OF AHMEDABAD,
January 10, 1819.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I have been for some time
occupied in taking securities, arms, &c., from 500
petty chiefs, villages, &c.

This district has been for ages infested by
plundering tribes, who besides having exercised
the right of exacting a sort of tribute from all
the tribes and villages within many miles, have
been in the habit of harbouring criminals, who
commonly committed murder in our districts, in
the hope of obliging us to come to terms. The
inhabitants for 60 or 70 miles round entertained
such a dread of them they dared not attempt to
defend themselves.

The Gaikwar's troops dared not face them,
and actually the whole army of 25,000 men lay
before this village, which is open on one side, five
months, fighting continually after their fashion, with-
out obtaining their object of forcing the place.

On my return from the field I pledged myself
to put them down, and was at length permitted
to try my hand.

176 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Under various pretexts I contrived to slip over
a few men and two guns to Ahmedabad, and then
made a night march and surprised this place.

After some resistance, in which two or three
hundred were killed, the remainder have most of
them surrendered.

The Government, in their infinite and over-
strained economy, have used me very ill.

Sir W. Keir and every one was told by the
Commander-in-Chief that I was to be appointed
Inspector of Cavalry, but after five months it is
stated that the Court of Directors had found fault
with such an appointment, and that I could not
have it.

The income, as you may suppose, was no
small object to me, but the greatest annoyance
was it being given abroad publicly, and my then
being disappointed, as if I could not have been
depended upon to do my best without being paid
for it.

Luckily for you the post is just going, so I must
now conclude. — Believe me, my dear Doyle, yours
very sincerely, LINCOLN STANHOPE.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

The following is a letter from Major Cole-
brooke, and contains a reminiscence of the Pen-
insular War. I believe Colebrooke was an A.D.C.
to Lord Hastings.

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 177

BANGALORE, July 4, 1820.

MY DEAR DOYLE, — I wrote to you from Madras,
and enclosed a few remarks hastily put together.

We commenced our journey on the 23rd, and
passed Walajabad, Arcot, and Vellore.

At Arcot I rode over to examine the site of
the fort where Clive made his debut in a gallant
defence.

It is entirely in ruins, but enough remains to
interest the antiquarian.

The present fort at Vellore, the theatre of poor
Gillespie's exploit, was to me particularly interest-
ing, and I went over it with my mind filled with
his own account of the affair, which I heard him
relate.

It has been imperfectly understood. There
is a fertility of resource throughout with which I
was not sufficiently impressed till I went over
the ground.

His charge into the square from the rampart,
and down the ramp, to draw the fire from the
igth Dragoons entering the gate, was truly fine.
Very few escaped who followed him. You will
see by the enclosed sketch how he had to run
the gauntlet of the enemy's fire.

I accompanied General Hartfield (?) this morn-
ing to look at your old friends, the 1 3th Light
Dragoons. They are in the highest state of
efficiency. Colonel Boyce is an active little officer,
and he is well seconded.

I could not help thinking of your old charge
against the Chamberan Regiment, the particulars

M

178 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

of which have often been related to me. They
are quite as prepared now for the same sort of
thing.

Your old friend, Major Macalister, spoke to me
in terms of great interest and admiration about you.
He talks of paying you a visit. Major Macruff (?)
is a fine young officer, and I could name other
germs of future commanders.

The 1 3th are very large men, and their horses,
though large for India, appear small under them,
but they are wonderfully active.

It is to be regretted that there is no means
of rewarding services in India without taking
officers from their regiments. What is elsewhere
the highest praise, is here a term of opprobrium.
To allege that an officer has adhered to his corps,
during a life of hard service, is thought a reflec-
tion on his understanding, which could not advance
him to the honour of the Staff.

It is delightful to see how the late war has
obliterated all unfriendly feelings that once ex-
isted between the two services ; not a remnant of
it now remains.

I shall write from Mysore.

With regards to all, believe me, my dear Doyle,
yours very sincerely, W. COLEBROOKE.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

A letter from Col. Hunter Blair, A.A.G. at
Bombay, on the subject of the Indian Regula-
tions : —

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 179

BOMBAY, March 15, 1820.

MY DEAR COLONEL, — You are under more
obligations than you may be fully aware of, to the
white ants, for having devoured what is much more
likely to misguide than to guide ; however, that they
may have a further repast, a copy of Moir's Compila-
tion, published twenty years ago, shall be despatched
to you by the first ship for Calcutta. We have not
any other publication that can be of service to you.

The total want of a key to the existing regula-
tions and orders of the Army is a very amazing in-
convenience to a stranger on his first acquaintance
with it, or indeed to any one.

Nothing has been published since 1801.

I very well remember having the pleasure of
making your acquaintance, when we were in pursuit
of Soult, towards Gallicia ; also at Talavera, where
a wound cost me nearly five years of precious liberty.
Please present my respectful duty to Lord and
Lady Hastings, and my respects to Colonel Nicols,
should he remember me as A.D.C. to Lord Hope-
town at Corunna. — Believe me, my dear Colonel,
yours very truly,

THOS. HUNTER BLAIR.

Colonel DOYLE, Military Secretary.

During the time Carlo Doyle was in India, he
had two natural children, I think a boy and a girl.
The mother was, I believe, the daughter of a chief
who had been killed with all his relatives, or at least
they had all disappeared.

r8o A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Both mother and children died in 1821, and I
suppose in memory of them, my great-uncle founded
some charitable institution for children in India ;
and from the following letter must have endowed it
rather largely.

He was then, I believe, quite well off, and it is
so far satisfactory that had the endowment not been
made at that time the money would probably have
been lost, with the remainder of his fortune, in 1824
or 1825.

The letter is flowery, and I cannot guess who
Major Forster can have been.

BARCILLY, February 18, 1822.

MY DEAR SIR, — I have duly had the honour of
receiving your letter of the 22nd January last.

The generous and noble proposition you have
made to second the efforts of the unfortunate
descendants of Britons in this country has made a
suitable and deep impression in my mind, although
I am unable to express those sentiments in any way
adequate to my present feelings and as the occasion
requires.

Should our endeavour be ultimately crowned
with success, of which, under your auspices, I cer-
tainly feel a lively and sanguine hope, believe me it
will be the most pleasing and exquisite recollection
to yourself, when time shall expand and mature
the latent germ of happiness thus planted in British
India, and thousands acknowledge the blessing

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 181

which (next to God) they will stand under to your
generosity, when freedom and just equality will be
granted, the sacred ties of friendship will be drawn
closer, and happiness diffused equally to your fellow-
Christians and fellow-subjects.

He who nobly hazards his life in the toils and
dangers of war, and thinks

Dulce est et decorum pro Patria mori,

well deserves the applause and admiration of his
country.

The Senator who directs the counsel of his
Prince with disinterested zeal and uprightness
excites our esteem and reverence, but he who steps
forward, the champion of the rights and liberties
of his fellow- subjects, deserves the love, gratitude,
and veneration of all mankind.

Nor will the voice of thousands, thus benefited
and made happy, be backward in offering their purest
tribute of affection, their increasing prayer, for your
health, happiness, and prosperity, when encircled
with your family in your own native land.

These, sir, are but a portion of that glorious
reward, which will add a zest to all your social
hours.

There is one greater than all these, the fulfilment
of your duty as a Christian in the sight of God,
with self-approving conscience of having conferred
happiness to thousands.

These, sir, cannot fail to cheer your latter days,
when age shall render the busy scenes of public life
irksome, and a tranquil retirement be hailed, as

1 82 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

affording leisure and opportunity to cast a retro-
spective glance to those occurrences and events
which draw forth the admiration, applause, and
gratitude of thousands.

I shall now conclude with sincerest wishes for
your health and happiness, and remain, my dear
sir, your grateful and devoted servant,

H. G. FORSTER,

ist B. Cavalry.

About i8i7ori8i8, Carlo Doyle painted a great
picture upon pocket-handkerchiefs, of Lord Hastings
entry to Oude. It is now hanging at Loudoun Castle,
where I once went to see it. It is about fifteen feet
long by about two feet high, and the march of the
army is portrayed in the most wonderful manner,
and with the greatest detail. In the extreme right-
hand bottom corner there is a party of officers hunt-
ing a black buck with fox-hounds, which shows that
even in those strenuous days they did have some
amusement.

But I think it rather remarkable, in all the five
volumes containing hundreds of letters, from all sorts
of people, and from all parts of the country, when
India must have been teeming with game, from
tiger to black partridge, there is not a mention of
anything to do with sport.

They deal with the government, agriculture,
geology, timber, and antiquities of different places,

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 183

but the wild animals are not touched upon. Either
they were too busy, or else tigers were so common,
. they were not thought worthy of notice.

In 1823 Carlo Doyle quitted India, and having
realised his investments, left his money behind him
in Calcutta, waiting till the exchange should be
favourable ; but shortly after his return home, the
banks at that place went down one after the other,
and the whole of his fortune was swept away, and
he found himself at past forty almost penniless.

Previous to this, according to my father, he had
suffered a great disappointment.

It appeared, on the accession of a new sovereign,
large fees were payable to the Military Secretary
to the Governor-General, and, on the death of
George III., the banks had offered him .£30,000
for his chance. This he was advised to refuse ;
but, on the accession of George IV., a rule was
brought in abolishing the fees, on the ground that
George IV. had been de facto sovereign as Prince
Regent for so long.

About 1827 my great-uncle had to begin the
world again, and somewhere about that time
went out to Jamaica to be Private Secretary to
Lord Sligo.

After staying there some time he was made
Governor of Grenada, where he remained till his
health broke down, and he returned home to die.

184 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

The only incident of his Governorship which is of
interest I cannot do better than quote my father's
account of, who, of course, got it first hand.

" A ship with a cargo of slaves having been
captured, the slaves on board were released and
handed over to various persons throughout the
island, and placed under a kind of apprenticeship.

" A boy and a girl, the girl a Koromantyn and
the boy an Eboe, became part of the Governor's
household.

" The Koromantyn is of fierce and haughty
nature, while the Eboe is meek and submissive.
When the Koromantyn falls into our hands they
are willing enough to be soldiers, and they become
good soldiers in the West Indian regiments ; but
slaves they never will be. They either commit
suicide or pine away in despair, so that their value
in the market amounted to nothing, for the simple
reason that no one would buy them.

" The Governor's Koromantyn girl possessed
in a high degree the natural attributes of her
people.

"In obedience to them, she took a fancy into
her head that the Eboe boy, who from the heights
of her self-esteem she utterly despised, had gradu-
ally become a greater favourite than she was.

" This being so, she determined on revenge.

" Having manufactured a sort of sabre out of
the iron hoops of a puncheon, she cut her rival
down with a severe blow on the head — as a matter

MAJOR-GEN. CHARLES JOSEPH DOYLE 185

of course. Then, rushing into the room of the
august brown housekeeper, she dragged all the
best clothes out of the drawers and tore them
to shreds.

"These facts having been accomplished, she
marched in stately dignity out of doors and sat
down in the bush, crooning out a wild sort of
hymn.

" The housekeeper was weeping over the frag-
ments of her gowns, the Eboe boy was plastering
up his head, and the Governor writing despatches,
so that nobody took much notice, till the old
Sergeant-Major of the Black Regiment quartered
in the town came to the Governor and asked if
he knew what the girl was doing.

" ' No, how should I ? ' was the natural reply.

" ' Well, sir, she is singing the death-chant of
her race, and, unless prevented, will certainly make
away with herself.'

"Now the Governor had had much experience
of life, and had learnt that the nature of women,
under whatever coloured skin it hides itself, is
everywhere much the same, so he knew how to
talk to her.

" ' What are you about,' he shouted out, ' mak-
ing that hideous hullabulloo so near my window ?
Can't you see that you hinder me from writing my
letters. If you must grunt like a hog in a high
wind go further off, and make those ridiculous
noises as long as you please.1

"This unsentimental way of looking at matters
fell upon the grim excitement of the young savage

i86 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

like a bucket of cold water ; so she gathered her-
self up and lurched sullenly back to the house.

" A Cabinet Council being then held under the
auspices of the Sergeant- Major, the final result
was that this Koromantyn Camilla, on receiving
a humble apology from the Eboe boy, for having
given her the trouble to cut him down ; a humble
apology from the worn housekeeper, because it was
her fault that she had tired herself in tearing all
the gowns and petticoats in pieces ; and a humble
apology from the Governor for interfering with her
magnanimous projects of self-destruction, consented
to survive.

" She afterwards married a Koromantyn soldier
in a West Indian regiment, and became one of the
best washerwomen in the island."

My great-uncle returned to England in 1845;
he was promoted Major-General in 1846, and died
at his house in Regent Street in 1848.

My father succeeded to the minute wreck of
what was once quite a respectable fortune ; but I
have no idea what became of his medals, plate, &c.,
the only thing that seems to have come to my
brother being the five volumes of letters before-
mentioned.

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE. K.C.B., &c.,
M.P. Co. CARLOW, 1830

From a painting by Count D ' Orsay

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN MILLEY
DOYLE, K.C.B.

Knight of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Tower and
Sword of Portugal^ Crescent.

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE was the son of Nicholas
Doyle, Dean of Fenner and Leighlen, fourth son
of Charles Doyle of Brambleston, and was conse-
quently a nephew of Sir John and of Welbore Ellis
Doyle. He was born 1781, and was appointed
Ensign in the io7th Foot, 3ist May 1794; Lieut.
io8th Foot 2ist June 1794; Lieut. 92nd Foot,
1800.

With the 92nd he went through the Egyptian
Campaign of 1801.

He was present at the landing of Aboukir Bay,
8th March 1801, the actions of the I3th and 2ist
of March, where the 92nd were heavily engaged,
the Battle of Alexandria, the attack on the Green
Hill redoubt under the orders of his uncle, Sir
John Doyle, the affair of Rhamanie, fall of Cairo,
Alexandria, &c.

For this campaign he received the badge of the

Crescent.

187

1 88 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Promoted Captain, 8ist Foot, gth July 1803.

Transferred 5th Foot, 3rd September 1803.

Transferred 87th Foot, 7th December 1804.

Major on the Staff in Portugal, i8th February
1809.

Local Lieut. -Colonel, March 1809.

He was appointed to command the i6th Portu-
guese Regiment, and in the campaign on the Douro
commanded the i6th and igth Portuguese Regi-
ments at the Battle of Grijon, nth May 1809,
where the i6th Regiment particularly distinguished
itself by taking a wood which formed the key of the
French position. Mentioned in despatches. Com-
manded the same two regiments at the passage of
the Douro ; thanked by Sir E. Paget.

He was subsequently in various affairs attending
the retreat of Soult and Messina, under the com-
mand of Sir D. Pack, by whom he was thanked on
various occasions, being constantly in advance of
the Army.

In one of these actions there is rather an
amusing story told of him by his cousin, Carlo
Joseph Doyle, who was a D.A.Q.M.G. on the staff
of Lord Wellington ; I believe it to have been a
fight called Foz d'Aronce on the i5th March 1811.

John Milley Doyle was in command of the i6th
and igth Regiments, and was on the right of the
attack, and was pushing his men forward rather

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. 189

quicker than Lord Wellington, who was there in
person, liked. So turning to Carlo Doyle, he said,
" Ride over, Doyle, to that d — d Irish cousin of
yours, and tell him to keep his men in hand for the
present."

Carlo obeyed, and found his " d — d Irish cousin "
cracking a huge hunting-whip, and shouting at the
top of his voice, " Hola, senores ; forward, senores ;
en avant, senores," and so on. On receiving the
General's order, he answered thus, " Oh, very well,
that must be as he likes, but do you tell Lord
Wellington from me, Carlo, that it is a very bad
plan backing young horses just as you have got
them to face a hill."

This I imagine Carlo was much too wide-awake
to do.

He was present at Fuentes d'Onor, where his
regiments were on the left, and they suffered
severely at the village of Poco Velho ; he was
thanked by Sir E. Houston.

He served at the siege of Badajos 1811, where
his regiment, the i6th, formed part of the force in-
vesting Christoval, but after two assaults, and having
in the second lost 140 men, the siege was abandoned.

He was present at the capture of Ciudad
Rodrigo, and was part of the force told off for the
false attack on St. Jago Gate, but which was
successfully carried.

190 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

He commanded the igth Portuguese Regiment
at the Battle of Victoria, where the Portuguese con-
tingent fought well, and lost 1 100 men killed and
wounded.

He commanded the iQth Portuguese Regiment
at the battles of the i9th, 29th, 3Oth July 1813 ; on
the last day, the Portuguese bore the brunt of the
fighting, and lost 1200 out of a total loss to the
Allies of 1900 men.

After this he was constantly in advance of the
7th Division under Lord Dalhousie, and commanded
the 1 6th and igth Regiments at the battles of the
ist and 2nd August, where they drove the French
from their camp behind the Bridge of Ardax and
burnt it.

He commanded the 6th Brigade at the Battle of
Nivelle, where they carried two redoubts at
D'Erlon's second position, after 1 1 o'clock on that
day, and on the i8th November formed part of the
force that captured the bridge at Melains, and
held it against a counter attack of the French on
the 1 9th. Thanked in General Orders by Marshal
Beresford.

He commanded the 6th Brigade at the Battle
of Orthes, and marched with the Brigade to Bor-
deaux.

For his services during the campaign, he
received a K.C.B., Knight of Tower and Sword

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. 191

of Portugal, Ferdinand of Spain and Isabella of
Spain.

He then returned to England, but at the end of
1814 was sent out to Portugal as one of the
Inspector-Generals of the Army. He returned to
England in 1817, and held one or two Staff appoint-
ments, but in 1824, the Portuguese Royal Family
being in great distress from various causes, and he
being much attached to them, he chartered a steam
vessel, the Royal George, and proceeded to Lisbon,
where upon his arrival he received orders from King
John VI. to repair at once to the palace. The
King asked him to deliver to the Princesses, his
daughters, then besieged in the town of Cadiz, letters
from him and the Queen.

Thirty-six hours later he had delivered the letters
to the Princesses, who received him with gratitude
but were obliged to decline returning with him, as
they were not permitted to take Don Sebastian with
them.

For this service, King John forwarded him the
following letter : —

To SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, Kt., &c.

I, the King, send you greeting. Being desirous
of giving you an additional proof of the esteem and
consideration in which I hold you, and which you
merit from me, as well for the services you have
rendered in my Army, where you held the rank of

192 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

Brigadier-General as for many other particular
motives which I have at present in my mind,
I deem it just to promote you be a Knight Com-
mander of the Tower and Sword, of which you are
already a Knight, and that you may understand it,
and be authorised to wear the insignia pertaining to
the Knight Commander of the said order, I send
you these presents, and may our Lord preserve you
in His holy guidance,

By THE KING.
(Countersigned) D'ALMEIDA DE LACUDA.

Given at our Palace of Alfirte, near
Lisbon, February ijtk, 1825.

Being well known as an adherent of Don Pedro,
after the death of King John VI., and from his
having afforded protection to a great many Por-
tuguese, by assisting them with his purse and other-
wise, John Milley Doyle endured great persecution
at the hands of Don Miguel, having gone out there
in 1827 in order to assist his friends; in 1828 he
was seized and interred in a secret cell, a remnant
of the Inquisition. There seemed no chance of
saving his life, but at length he was released upon
the intercession of old friends in Lisbon, and also
the expenditure of a good deal of money, I fancy,
by his uncle, old Sir John.

In 1830, he was returned for Parliament for Co.
Carlow, but in 1832, Don Pedro of Brazil having

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. 193

come over from Portugal, and preparing to fight to
put his daughter on the throne of that country, he
wrote to Sir John Milley Doyle, and begged him to
come out and assist, promising him a high com-
mand.

Sir John, therefore, resigned his seat in Parlia-
ment and went out with a staff of twenty gentlemen,
imagining, I fancy, that he was to have the chief
command ; on his arrival, however, he found that
Don Pedro, who called himself the Regent for his
daughter, had assumed the chief command, so
Doyle was gazetted a Major-General and principal
A.D.C.

The military chest being very low, Doyle offered
to serve without any other advantages than those
enjoyed by Portuguese officers, who from the
highest to the lowest were only paid at the rate of
£2, i os. a month, to be reimbursed on the scale of
pay of a British Major-General when the campaign
was finished and Lisbon taken. The Regent
accepted this offer, and a general order was
published which one would have thought would
have settled the subject for good and all.

GENERAL ORDER

Major-General Sir J. M. Doyle and others
having offered to serve without any other advan-
tages than those enjoyed by Portuguese officers of

N

194 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

similar rank till the Army reaches Lisbon, there to
be reimbursed the difference of pay stipulated,
H.I.M. is graciously pleased to accept this offer, and
to declare, how praiseworthy, generous, and chival-
rous is the conduct of these worthy defenders of the
Queen, his daughter.

(Signed) VALDEZ, Adjt.-Genl.

Sir John was present at the action of Villa Nova
on the i4th November 1832, under Don Pedro, and
was also present at a sally from Oporto on the 28th
November, but on neither occasion was much
effected.

He found affairs in a very bad state, not only
among the men, who were greatly in arrears of pay,
and were on half rations, and were without boots
and accoutrements, but also among the senior
officers ; there were constant intrigues even among
people of British nationality.

Naval officers intrigued against military, Scotch
officers intrigued against English and Irish, and I
imagine he must have wished himself well out of
the affair.

Matters became a little better when, on
the ist January 1833, General Solignac arrived
from France ; he was created a Marshal and
made Commmader - in - Chief of the Queen's
Army.

He seems to have been aware of the intrigues

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. 195

going on round Don Pedro, and spoke his mind to
him very plainly.

Sir John took part in the various affairs outside
Oporto under him. but when he resigned the com-
mand, he was rather at a loss, but eventually decided
to see the thing through, and he appears to have
got on fairly well with Saldanha, who was Chief of
the Staff. He was present at numerous affairs,
among others at the Battle of Leira, under the
Duke of Teneira, but I don't know in what capacity,
and also at the Battle of Ageiceira, where the
Miguelites were totally defeated, and which practi-
cally finished the war.

After the Convention of Elvora, and the with-
drawal of Don Miguel, Sir John returned to Lisbon,
and the war having terminated, and being anxious
to return to England, he applied for a settlement of
his claims.

Saldanha, the War Minister, promised that they
should be attended to. This was afterwards refused
by the Council, and he was only paid as a Portu-
guese General, after repeated requests ; and even to
obtain that sum, he and other British officers, who
had served under the same promises, had to give a
receipt in full, and resign their commission in the
Portuguese service. This was such an obvious
breach of faith, that on his return to England Doyle
obtained from the British Government a promise

196 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

that a Commission should sit to investigate the
claims. The question dragged on for years, but the
result of the Commission at length was, that the
Portuguese Government was forced to pay to the
other British officers ;£ 160,000 that they had pre-
viously denied owing ; but, probably owing to the
fact that he was the officer who obtained the Com-
mission, he was the only one who remained
unsettled with. The following is a letter he received
from Marshal Solignac, who was one time Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Army : —

MONTPELIER, March 16, 1844.

GENERAL, — After attentive perusal of the docu-
ment you did me the honour to enclose in yours of
the loth inst., I lose not a moment to reply, and to
give you most sincerely my opinion on the subject
of your claim upon the Government of Portugal.

The items of your account, I see, are made out
in strict accordance with the contract made with the
British Auxiliary Forces, and consequently your
demand upon the Portuguese Government appears
to me to be perfectly just.

From my position, as Commander-in-Chief of
the Liberating Army in Portugal, I was able to judge
and to appreciate your truly zealous, gallant, and
very efficient services in that Army during a long,
most perilous, and eventful period.

Your boundless devotion to the person and cause
of the young Queen, the latter then a most doubtful

SIR JOHN MILLEY DOYLE, K.C.B. 197

one, entitles you, General, not only to the just, but
to the most generous, consideration of her Most
Faithful Majesty's Government.

I am firmly persuaded, that when the facts of
your case are made known to the august personage,
whose throne was restored to her by the intrepidity of
that very Army, in which you bore so brave, loyal,
and distinguished a part, H.M. will not sanction even
for a moment so flagrant an act of injustice, as well
as of ingratitude, being done to one of her most
ancient, honourable, and strenuous supporters.

Be persuaded, General, of the sincerity of my
good wishes, respect, and consideration, and let me
hear from you at the termination of this affair,
which, of course, as a matter of right must be decided
in your favour ; and pray refer to me whenever you
think I can render you any service.

(Signed) SOLIGNAC.

Major-General Sir J. M. DOYLE, K.C.B.

Nothing, however, was done, and though the
Duke of Richmond, and Lord Brougham, took up
his case, on more than one occasion, in the House
of Lords, the fact remains, that Sir John Milley
Doyle was the only officer of the Liberating Army
who was never settled with by the Portuguese
Government.

The moral of this is, if you go out to set a
wandering princess on her throne, have a stamped
agreement, or better still, get paid in advance.

Having spent much money in Portugal, both in

198 A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONFLICT

assisting his friends and making advances to Don
Pedro, Sir John became greatly embarrassed for
money, and in order in some way to provide for him
in 1846, he became a Military Knight of Windsor,
and later was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms to her
Majesty Queen Victoria.

Towards the end of his life he received many
flattering marks of attention from her Majesty and
the Prince Consort when at Windsor.

He died suddenly in 1856 at the age of 75, his
last public appearance being when he attended the
Earl Marshal at the proclamation of the peace in
that year.1

In May 1911, his Peninsula Gold Cross, with
various battles on it and a clasp for Orthes, and his
Orders of the Tower and Sword of Portugal, and
Ferdinand of Spain, were sold by auction in London ;
my brother attended the sale to try and obtain them,
but they went for nearly £200, which placed them
beyond his reach.

It would be curious to find out how these things
came into the market, and how and by whom they
were obtained in the first instance, on his death in
1856.

1 There is a picture of him in my brother's possession, which,
though not a very great work of art, is of some interest, as it is
supposed to be painted by Count d'Orsay.

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON 6* Co.
Edinburgh 6» London.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

DA
68
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DTD?

Doyle, Arthur Havelock
James

A hundred years of
conflict